Nagpur: Earth Hour is a Global event celebrated annually towards the end of March by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The drive encourages individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn down their non- essential lights for an hour from 8.30 -9.30 pm, as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. The movement started in 2007 at Sydney , Australia and now has spread to more than 7000 cities and towns Worldwide.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Nagpur & Green Vigil Foundation, Nagpur conducted Earth Hour Campaign at Eternity Mall, Variety Square, Nagpur. During the campaign, members of Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Green Vigil Foundation interacted with citizens on climate change & it’s effect, factors affecting climate change & remedial measures, need & ways of energy conservation, shifting to alternate sources of energy. The campaign was attended by stakeholders from all groups including Decision Makers, Politicians, Bureaucrats, Environmental Activists, Representative of Nodal Bodies, Govt. Officers, Students and Citizens .
The campaign was undertaken under the able guidance of Hon. Prof Anil ji Sole, MLC & Ex- Mayor of Ngapur and Hon. Pravin ji Datke, Ex Mayor of Nagpur . NMC & Green Vigil’s signature campaign – Poornima Diwas campaign is conducted every Poornima (Full moon day )on similar grounds as that of Earth Hour, from January 2014 by choosing a square , putting off the street lights, and encouraging shopkeepers, households ,citizens to turn off their non- essential lights for an hour. The ongoing three year long journey has been exceedingly rewarding with huge savings on Electricity, Water, Coal and restricting Carbon emissions. Poornima Diwas campaign has also been appreciated by Hon. Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Ji Modi.
For generating ONE unit of Electricity, 7.5 Lits of water, 0.5 Kgs of coal is required which emits 1 kg of Carbon Dioxide in atmosphere, which is a major Greenhouse gas giving rise to the Climate Change. Poornima Diwas Campaign have been able to save 93488 Units of electricity, 701160 Lits of water,46744 kgs of Coal and restricted 93488 kgs of Carbon emission release in atmosphere.
Coming to the this year’s Earth Hour endeavors, huge response received by businesses and citizens , Eternity Mall dimmed the lights by 75 %, and citizens showed their support by pledging to Change Climate Change !
Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder, Green Vigil Foundation, stated, India ratified Paris Agreement on 2nd October, 2016, wherein India committed to curb carbon emissions by reducing carbon emission intensity – emission per unit of GDP – by 33-35% from 2005 levels over 15 years. However, Nagpur has been achieving reduction in carbon emission since January,2014 itself.
Officers & Staffs of NMC and members of Green Vigil Foundation worked hard for the success of the campaign.
