Thirty two schools across the Falkirk Council area are planning to take part in the world’s largest environmental event – Earth Hour which takes place on Saturday 23 March 2013, 8.30pm.

And more are sure to follow as local schools focus their efforts on reducing energy use in schools in the count down to Earth Hour.

Falkirk Council has also pledged support for the campaign for the fourth year running which mirrors its own efforts of tackling climate change at a local level.

Councillor Doctor Martin, Convener of the Environment and Community Safety Committee said: “It’s really good to see so many local schools supporting Earth Hour and getting involved in a global environmental event. Teachers and children come up with some really creative but simple activities and are great at taking the message home.

“We all have a role to play in protecting our planet and children and young people have a high level of awareness now on the issues we face in terms of climate change thanks to the many initiatives they take part in, including the Eco Schools programme.”

In the week running up to Earth Hour, many of the schools will come up with their own ideas of how to save energy, including

• Appointing pupils as Energy Monitors to ensure that lights, screens and computers don’t waste energy and setting a Power Hour they switch everything off and try activities that use no energy at all.
• The official Earth Hour video will be shown to pupils at Larbert High and a power down will take place on Friday afternoon (22nd)

In January Falkirk Council’s new two year action plan for ‘Sustainable Development and Climate Change 2012-15’ was approved which has over one hundred great ideas happening right now to make Falkirk a greener place to work, live and visit.

Earth Hour is a simple idea that has grown into a world phenomenon. It began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and it's now a yearly event that has expanded across the globe to raise awareness of climate change.