Ontario is joining the world in marking Earth Hour by turning off the lights in government buildings between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Earth Hour is a global event highlighting the importance of conserving energy and working together to reduce energy use and tackle climate change. Everyone can make a difference by taking steps to cut our energy use at work, at school and at home.

Ontario has also been working to reduce greenhouse gases by phasing out coal, promoting conservation and building a clean, reliable energy system, helping to:

• Conserve energy and generate peak demand savings of more than 1,700 MW of electricity since 2005, which is the equivalent to taking more than half a million homes off the grid.
• Create thousands of new, good jobs in the province.
• Clean up the air we breathe – last year, four coal units were closed, the equivalent of taking two million cars off Ontario’s roads.

These actions are an important part of the government’s Open Ontario Plan to build a stronger economy and create jobs, while protecting our environment.

• The World Wildlife Fund launched the first Earth Hour event in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. Since then it has grown into an international campaign with millions of people participating.
• Over 70 buildings owned by the Ontario government will participate in Earth Hour.
• In 2003, Ontario had 19 dirty coal units and just 10 wind turbines. Today, the province has more than 800 wind turbines and by the end of 2014 all coal units will be closed.

• Find more about Earth Hour and register online to participate.
• See how Ontario is tackling climate change.
• Learn how Ontario is increasing its renewable energy.