Baltimore will officially support Earth Hour 2009, a global climate event led by the World Wildlife Fund. More than 950 cities around the world have already committed to go dark for one hour on March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM, as tens of millions of people from all corners of the world unite in a call for global action on climate change.

The Baltimore Earth Hour is being led by the Youth Advisory Group to the Office of Sustainability with support from the Office of Sustainability, The Department of Planning, and the Mayor’s Office. Participation in Earth Hour is a money saving project that would serve as an educational forum demonstrating how to reduce energy use and lower greenhouse gas emissions. All of which are goals of the recently completed Baltimore Sustainability Plan.

Hannah Freedman, one of the members of the Youth Advisory Group, has been working to spread the word about Earth Hour among young people because she believes, “Tomorrow’s politicians, doctors, and lawyers are in Baltimore City Schools right now and together, we will find and implement a more sustainable way to live on our planet.” She feels that this event will lead to, “perhaps a small reduction in energy consumption, but more importantly, a lasting awareness of the environmental issues facing civilization. This awareness is what is needed for citywide cooperation on the Sustainability Plan.”