By Ifham Nizam

Protecting nature is one of the most immediate, powerful and cost-effective solutions to the climate crisis. Nature provides people with food, water, clean air and other services worth over USD 125 trillion a year, Environmental Scientist, Supun Lahiru Prakash said.

As the Convener of the Biodiversity Conservation and Research Circle, he was delivering the keynote address at the Earth Hour 2021 celebration organized by the Sri Lanka Scout Association at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, recently.

“Nature is also one of our strongest allies against climate change”, he stressed.

“Earth Hour aims to increase awareness and spark global conversations on protecting nature not only to combat the climate crisis, but also to ensure our own health, happiness, prosperity and even survival,” he outlined.

Major General (Retd.) Milinda Peiris, Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and the Chief Commissioner of the Sri Lanka Scout Association was the chief guest at the event held with the participation of Commissioners and hundreds of scouts from across the country.

Prakash said that 2021 presents an unmissable opportunity for change. This year, world leaders will come together during key global conferences and fora to set the environmental agenda for the next decade and beyond.

Crucial political decisions will be made on climate action, nature and sustainable development decisions that will directly affect the fate of humanity and our planet for years to come, he pointed out.

“With your support, Earth Hour 2021 could be a spotlight moment that puts nature at the center of international conversations.

Together, we can speak up and show world leaders and other decision-makers around the globe that nature matters and urgent action must be taken to reverse nature loss”, he emphasized.

The Earth Hour celebration was initiated by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007. It is now one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the environment.

Celebrated annually on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories, switching off their lights to show support for the planet.

But, Earth Hour goes far beyond the symbolic action of switching off lights – it has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action.

Earth Hour is open-source, and welcomes everyone to take part and help amplify the mission to unite people to protect the planet. In 2007, People were encouraged around the world to switch off their lights to call attention to climate change.