Peter May switches off and joins WWF for the greatest show on Earth

4.43.51pm GMT Thu 18th Feb 2010

Peter May, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Swansea West, has publicly backed WWF's Earth Hour and urges people, schools and business in Swansea to also sign up to the big switch off to show they care about climate change.

By switching off their lights off for one hour on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm they will join millions of others across the globe in a graphic demonstration to decision makers that they support urgent action on climate change.

In 2009, millions of individuals in 4,088 towns and cities from over 80 countries took part in Earth Hour - to demonstrate their concern about climate change and the future of our planet to world leaders. 800 iconic landmarks around the world switched off their lights for one hour and transformed the global skyline in a dramatic call for action. Last year in Wales nearly 70 per cent of all local authorities signed up together with over a 100 schools, and iconic landmarks such as Wales' Millennium Stadium, Caernarfon Castle and the National Library for Wales in Aberystwyth switched off. A total of 200 buildings across the UK including Big Ben, Edinburgh Castle and Stormont went dark for WWF's Earth Hour too. Families embarked on nature trails in the dark and one couple even got married in darkness. Diners enjoyed candlelit dinners around the globe whilst watching as major landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, the Pyramids of Giza and the Empire State Building turned out their lights.

This year WWF would like to make Earth Hour even bigger and better with your help. Schools, communities, organisations and individuals can all take part in 2010 to show they support people and wildlife threatened by climate change.

Peter May said: "Getting involved and signing up to WWF's Earth Hour is the perfect and easy way of showing you care about climate change and the planet. The threats to people and nature are real so I urge everyone to sign up in support of action against climate change."

Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing people and nature, and demands urgent global action. Last year, world leaders missed a key opportunity to agree a global climate deal in Copenhagen, but with each year of delay, the impacts on people and wildlife get more severe and the window of opportunity gets smaller. So we need everyone to switch off and support Earth Hour once again in 2010 - show world leaders they need to finish the job, and be one of many millions of people around the world united in their call for action.

"WWF's Earth Hour is an inspiring opportunity for people to do something positive to help tackle climate change," said Anne Meikle, Head of WWF Cymru. "Last year's Earth Hour was the biggest ever climate change event. By making it even bigger this year, we can all send a strong message to world leaders that people around the globe are united in calling for decisive action on climate change."

• WWF's Earth Hour: Saturday 27 March 2010, 8.30pm. www.wwf.org.uk/earthhourwales