Communities flock to SM malls to support Earth Hour’s ‘Shine a light on Climate Action’

On March 19, 63 SM malls, including 7 in China, became the venue for communities to show their support for Earth Hour. With this year’s theme of ‘Shine a Light on Climate Action’, SM malls turned off its excess lights from 8:30 to 9:30 for the event and also encouraged people to learn more about climate change through various in-mall activities. This is the 8th year that SM has supported the world’s largest public campaign for the environment.

According to Liza Silerio, Director of SM Cares Program on Environment and Sustainability, SM malls’ wide-reach gives the group the opportunity to share the message to communities and initiate the change mind set of how people treat the environment.

SM malls also encouraged its communities to join in and show their support. In SM City Davao, old mall decorations are turned into art globes to signify the community’s commitment to the Earth Hour’s initiative. SM City Marilao built a ‘flower garden’ made up of recycled plastic bottles which were powered up by solar energy. Other SM malls also put up amazing shows for shoppers while some had guest celebrities.

Organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Earth Hour started in 2007 as a country-wide lights-off event in Sydney, Australia. Today, Earth Hour has spread into a worldwide movement which encourages individuals, communities and businesses to turn off their excess lights for one hour to show their commitment to the planet.

SM malls’ yearly Earth Hour event is just one of its strategies for environment conservation. SM malls also promotes initiatives in disaster resilience, conservation and preservation, and environmental awareness.

For more photos, visit SM Cares’ facebook page.