SACRAMENTO – The State Assembly voted Monday to approve Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 15, a measure by North Coast Sen. Patricia Wiggins (D – Santa Rosa) designed to raise awareness of global climate change and energy efficiency.

SCR 15 declares the hour of 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday in March to be "Earth Hour" throughout the state. SCR 15 also encourages city, county, and state employees, and businesses, to turn off non-essential lights in government buildings, public schools, public landmarks, and other buildings for that hour on Saturday, March 28.

“By promoting the worldwide event and calling on all Californians to participate, we can further contribute to reducing green house gases and help bring awareness to over 35 million Californians on how they can contribute to fighting global warming,” Wiggins said. “I encourage everyone to join me in this effort and do all you can to promote this important, worldwide event.

Climate change is a global problem, requiring a multitude of solutions that must be implemented by the entire global community,” she added. “Earth Hour symbolizes a commitment towards that goal.”

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour.

In 2008, the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of one billion people switching off their lights as part of a global action.

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