Three Thai cities in finals of Earth Hour City Challenge

[Lite Beer]

Three Thai cities in finals of Earth Hour City Challenge
THE SUNDAY NATION March 1, 2015 1:00 am

SONGKHLA'S Hat Yai, Khon Kaen's Khon Kaen municipality and Tambon Mapammarit municipality in Chumpon's Pathio district are among 44 cities from 16 countries that have made it to the final of the Earth Hour City Challenge 2015.

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI - Local governments for sustainability) and the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) will announce the winners at the ICLEI World Congress in Seoul from April 8-12.

The 44 finalist cities were being reviewed by an international jury with regard to their actions and commitments as of press time. One sustainability leader per country would be identified for the National Earth Hour City Awards, while one global Earth Hour City would also be selected.

In its third year, the year-long competition saw 163 cities from 17 countries take up the challenge to submit inspiring and credible urban development plans that dramatically increase the city's use of renewable energy and meet the carbon Climate Registry (cCR) standard.

The competition aims to promote renewable energy and prepare for climate change by extending from the Earth Hour, in which cities turn off their lights for one hour each year to raise awareness of energy use and climate change.

WWF also hoped this would inspire cities to bargain for better weather-related measures at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, in December this year.

"Cities are leading the way toward a fair, climate-resilient future. While national governments have largely talked about solutions, real changes are being created everyday from the solar street lamps to the clean transit systems of the world's cities," said Carina Borgstrom-Hansson, Lead for WWF's Earth Hour City Challenge.

"Cities are innovation hotspots that are creating solutions to put the world on track for a climate-safe future. To help them succeed, we urgently need supporting action from policy-makers, businesses and financial institutions that are prepared to slam the door on fossil fuels and open it fully for a renewable future," she added.

The three Thai cities showcased different management through initiatives and participation from community, schools and the private sector such as electricity production using bio-mass (animal dung), mangrove forest rehabilitation, bio energy from leftover oil, the "garbage bank" waste management system, and solar power usage.

Public members can read more details and vote for their cities at www.welovecities.org until March 16. People can also upload favourite pictures from the cities via Instagram using the respective city's hashtag.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Three-Thai-cities-in-finals-of-Earth-Hour-City-Cha-30255090.html

-- The Nation 2015-03-01

[Somtamnication]

I am shocked that Phuket was not on the list!!

[Fiddlesticks]

The three Thai cities must be in the running for being able to convert just about any substance into plumes and plumes of atmospheric smoke! It's good to see Thailand recognized for one of their more substantial contributions to the environment.

[soalbundy]

Now they have spoilt some of the surprise, we now know the three cities that come last.

[ronwparker]

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An obvious point that has been overlooked is that this is the administrator's way of showing support for the bullet train. Any questions?

ha ha

[Basil B]

Final Hour on Earth...

I vote for Pattaya.