UEFA joins in WWF Earth Hour

UEFA will give its backing to social responsibility partner WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature – by taking part in the WWF's Earth Hour on Saturday 27 March to highlight the issue of climate change.

European football's governing body is joining in a campaign being organised by the WWF network across the globe. Consequently, the lights in UEFA's headquarters – the House of European Football in Nyon, on the banks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland – will be switched off for one hour on Saturday evening.

The aim is for 1 billion people in cities and towns worldwide to show their support for action on climate change, in what is seen as a positive message of hope and action, emphasising what people can do when they act together. So far, over 1,700 cities and towns have confirmed their full participation.

Earth Hour 2010 is a call to action to individuals, businesses and communities to contribute to the drive towards a sustainable future. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights, and special Earth Hour events will take place in a record 120 countries and territories. As WWF reports, many iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. The action is designed to be a celebration and moment of contemplation of the one thing everyone has in common – our planet.

"Earth Hour 2010 is proof of the global community's desire to adopt low-carbon lifestyle habits and show some leadership to our world leaders in addressing the issue of global warming," said the campaign's co-founder and executive director Andy Ridley.

"Never has there been a more important time or better opportunity for the people of the world to stand up and take the matter of climate change into their own hands. Earth Hour brings together communities, businesses and individuals to show world leaders and, more importantly, show each other, that a resolution to global warming is possible if we work on it together. UEFA is helping to lead the way for positive action."

WWF has almost 5 million supporters and a global network spanning more than 100 countries. It is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature.