Global warming, pollution, urbanization and human activity are the main causes of environmental problems on a global scale. That is why numerous environmental protection initiatives are launched every year to remind the human race just how important nature is for our survival. One such pivotal initiative is Earth Hour, held every year on the last Saturday of March, when within the space of one hour – from 8.30 until 9.30 PM local time – people turn off their lights, to raise awareness of the public’s commitment to tackle climate change and for a cleaner planet. Every year the organizers launch a different appeal. This year it is: Switch off the lights, open your eyes to the planet. What it means and are people more concerned now over environmental changes and problems – the answer from climatologist Georgi Stefanov from the World Wildlife Fund:

“Yes, definitely. We are now seeing many more Bulgarians taking part in Earth Hour, but also in the traditional surveys we, at the WWF conduct. I am happy to say that protection of the environment is a key factor in Bulgarian society. We want the law to be abided by. What people expect of us is to popularize the problems and implement solutions that allow a balance to exist between nature protection, economic prosperity, stability, education. Climate change which has been in the focus of this campaign for 10 years, is the global problem that is the common denominator in all smaller problems like logging, soil pollution, water damage. Ultimately, we are putting at risk the overall capability of the planet to provide humans with these resources, because we have always thought they are endless, will never be depleted and that they are free. It is clear, though that this is not so. Resources are restricted and the capacities of eco-systems are far from limitless. Unless we make efforts to preserve them, our children will be deprived of the water, air, food and all other resources the planet Earth gives us.”

Georgi Stefanov says that over the past 10 years we have been witnessing a considerable change in the way the media give coverage to environmental problems. Once, environmental issues were not seen as part of the public agenda, now they are taken much more seriously.

That holds good, at least of the media. Green issues are part of the pre-election platforms of several parties, though whether the candidates will make good on their promises is yet to be seen.

The idea of Earth Hour came into being in Australia in 2007. Over these past 10 years, thanks to this and other environmental initiatives, dozens of hectares of woodland have been restored in Georgia, while the Russian Duma is now obligated to endorse amendments to the environmental protection law regarding mining. In Paraguay the moratorium on lumbering, as a measure against deforestation, has been extended.

English version: Milena Daynova