Last weekend, Kuala Lumpur joined 7,000 cities across 152 countries throughout the world in turning off the lights for one hour at 8.30pm, Saturday. This is the second time KL’s has participated in Earth Hour, a global environmental campaign to make a statement about reducing our carbon footprint.

Launched in 2007 by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour is a global effort to encourage responsible energy practices by turning off non-essential lights for an hour. Hundreds of millions of people from more than 7,000 cities on seven continents went dark for 60 minutes during the 2013 Earth Hour observance.

In Kuala Lumpur, although there have been activities held in conjunction with Earth Hour since it was first introduced in 2009, KL officially participated with an effort coordinated and spearheaded by Kuala Lumpur City Hall in 2013.

Leading by example, the Mayor had made an announcement that all Kuala Lumpur City Hall offices will turn off all lightings and appliances and issued notice to all KL residents to follow this action. Under I WILL, IF YOU WILL pledge campaign, the Mayor declared his commitment to ride a bicycle to work for 5 days IF at least 150 buildings in KL committed to switching off their lights for an hour.

In 2013, Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur made the first Earth Hour pledge to cycle to work for 1 day; IF 50 buildings turn off their lights for 1 hour. A total of 86 buildings supported the Mayor challenge.

“Turning out our lights for Earth Hour will not only conserve energy, but it will also protect and preserve our planet, for the generations to come. And we should not implement this call only during Earth Hours, but instead let us make it as our daily practice. Conservation of energy can also be done through usage of solar panels, LED Lighting and by building more green buildings that will utilize less energy and water, which save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce carbon emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community” explained Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur.

So, will the Mayor of KL cycle to work for 5 days?  As of now, the people at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall are awaiting the list of buildings who participated in last weekend’s Earth Hour. But, from what we hear, the Mayor will most probably be cycling to work, to set a good example.