RESOLUTION NO. 120166

Directing the City Manager to participate in Earth Hour on March 31, 2012, 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.; and encouraging all other area public entities, private businesses and individuals to participate in Earth Hour.

WHEREAS, Earth Hour 2012 is a global grass-roots movement encouraging individuals, businesses, and governments around the world to take positive actions for the environment and celebrating their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour; and

WHEREAS, participation in Earth Hour is a sign of commitment to show leadership in finding solutions to our local and global environmental challenges by adopting environmentally sustainable lifestyle habits and business practices on an ongoing basis; and

WHEREAS, Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 when more than 2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses in Sydney, Australia turned off their lights for one hour on Saturday, March 31, 2007 to take a stand on climate change; and

WHEREAS, in the space of three years Earth Hour grew to include individuals, businesses, and governments across 128 countries with more than a thousand of the world’s man-made marvels and natural wonders participating, including the Pyramids in Egypt, the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, Beijing’s Forbidden City, the Sydney Opera House, Buckingham Palace, and Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil standing in darkness for one hour to symbolize the planet’s environmental consciousness; and

WHEREAS, more than 5,200 cities, towns, and municipalities took part in Earth Hour 2011 across 135 countries, including 89 national capitals and 9 of the world’s 10 most populated cities; and

WHEREAS, the organizers of Earth Hour 2012 are asking people, businesses, and governments to “go beyond the hour” to make a commitment to take action for ongoing changes in behavior that benefits the quality of our environment; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, Missouri has participated in Earth Hour for the past two years by shutting off non-essential lighting in City Hall for the designated hour; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City wishes to symbolize its ongoing commitment to reduce its contribution to climate change and incorporate sustainability into all of its municipal operations and to encourage other organizations in our community to do likewise; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That the City Manager is directed to participate in Earth Hour 2012 by turning off non-essential lights in City Hall and other City buildings for an hour at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2012 and by publicizing Earth Hour on the City’s website and channel 2 to build awareness of Earth Hour.

Section 2. That the City Council encourages all other area public entities, private businesses and individuals to participate in Earth Hour and also commit to “going beyond the hour” to implement an ongoing change that benefits the planet.

__________________________________________________