VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (Marketwire) — 03/05/13 — Editors Note: There is a photo accompanying this press release.
Vancouver has been named national winner of a WWF green city challenge, putting the Canadian city in the running with five other country finalists chosen from 66 city entrants for the top prize of global Earth Hour City, 2013.
Vancouver, as the Canadian winner, is vying for top honours with country finalists in India, Italy, the U.S., Sweden, and Norway in WWF–s Earth Hour City Challenge, an initiative to recognize cities around the world taking the most innovative action on climate change. From the six country winners, a global champion will be announced March 19th, in Malmo, Sweden by an international jury led by Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nation–s Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Choosing Vancouver as Canadian winner, the jury noted “Vancouver–s holistic and long-term vision on urban development, the effort toward local city food systems, and ambitious targets for government performance.”
A solar-powered airport in Cochin, India; wind-energy back up for a bus station in Coimbatore, Italy; and traffic lights that give priority to city buses in Uppsala, Sweden were among the innovative steps being taken by 66 cities in six countries that originally entered their submissions to the city challenge. Vancouver was chosen from among three Canadian finalists, including Surrey and Colwood.
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About WWF
WWF is creating solutions to the most serious conservation challenges facing our planet, helping people and nature thrive.
About the Earth Hour City Challenge
Founded in Sweden to celebrate Earth Hour 2011, the Earth Hour City Challenge initiative was created to celebrate cities that are taking innovation actions towards creating a greener, cleaner and more sustainable city to live in, while inspiring other cities to do the same. Visit for more details on the challenge, jury and finalists.
About WWF–s Earth Hour
Join hundreds of millions of people worldwide and switch off your lights on Saturday, March 23 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Visit to join the movement.
WWF–s Earth Hour is an opportunity for individuals, businesses and communities around the globe to unite in a powerful call to action of hope for a better, healthier planet. In Canada, BMO Financial Group and the Toronto Star are the national sponsors, Ontario Power Authority is a regional sponsor and Staples Canada is the education sponsor. As sponsors for WWF–s Earth Hour, BMO Financial Group, Toronto Star, Ontario Power Authority and Staples Canada will harness their incredible ability to engage employees and reach customers in spreading our message and encouraging individual action.
To view the photo accompanying this press release, please visit the following link:
This news release and associated material can be found on .
Contacts:
WWF Canada
Riannon John
416-347-1894
WWF Canada
Jo Anne Walton
604-787-3103