Sign Up at www.ehm.my and Switch Off on 27th March 2010

2nd March 2010, Petaling Jaya – When you sign up at www.ehm.my and pledge to switch off your non-essential lights from 8:30pm to 9:30pm during Earth Hour on 27th March 2010, you will be voicing your concern about climate change – a threat not only to humans but wildlife and nature as well. Even turtles, one of Malaysia’s most endangered species, will be badly affected by climate change.  Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and strength of storms, which will erode beaches and reduce nesting habitats.  For example, the Turtle Islands Park in Sabah, an important nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles, is facing serious erosion problems. We can help turtles to adapt to this by protecting as many nesting habitats as possible now.

When turtles lay their eggs, the temperature of the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings. Warmer nests produce mostly female hatchlings.  As the climate warms, it is predicted that turtle nests too will be warmer resulting in fewer male hatchlings. This imbalance in the sex ratio will have an adverse impact on future turtle populations where there will be fewer male turtles to fertilize the eggs. Slowing climate change now will help to reduce this threat.

Turtles also require healthy marine habitats, such as seagrass beds and coral reefs, for food and shelter.  Rising sea levels, ocean acidification and coral bleaching brought on by climate change will affect coral reef and seagrass distribution and productivity.  As these habitats degrade or disappear, turtles may go too. 

Along with helping to save the turtles by showing your support for mitigating and adapting to the catastrophic effects of climate change, we also save the ecosystems they need, shared not only by myriad and unique marine organisms but for millions of human beings dependent on coastal and marine resources for their food and livelihood. Thus, WWF-Malaysia is working to conserve turtles and marine ecosystems. WWF-Malaysia thanks the public for generously contributing 100,000 signatures in support of the 2009 “Egg=Life” Campaign and launched our advocacy campaign aimed at improving turtle conservation legislation this January.

It was estimated that over 6 million Malaysians participated in Earth Hour 2009. WWF-Malaysia now urges all Malaysians to come together again during Earth Hour 2010 and show their support for the fight against climate change

Please sign up at www.ehm.my and pledge to switch off non-essential lights during Earth Hour 2010. This website also offers information on WWF-Malaysia’s marine conservation and climate change mitigation efforts. If you would like to fundraise for WWF-Malaysia through Earth Hour 2010, please e-mail Devan Subramaniam, Corporate Relations Unit Senior Manager at DSubramaniam@wwf.org.my for approval and guidance.

For media queries, please contact Subashni Bahsu, Media & Public Affairs Senior Executive, at tel: 03-78033772 ext 6306 or e-mail: SBahsu@wwf.org.my