Robert Brown congratulates Rutherglen and Cambuslang on Earth Hour Efforts

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Apr 2009

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown has today congratulated all those who took part in the WWF's Earth Hour, branding the experience as "an excellent success".

People in 4,000 cities around the globe turned their lights off for one hour at 8.30pm on 28th March, making Earth Hour the biggest ever event in support of determined international action on climate change.

As a local authority, South Lanarkshire joined in a commitment to switch off around council offices and buildings, and local schools including Spittal Primary, Stonelaw High School and Rutherglen High School all signed up.

National landmarks such as the Clyde Arc bridge and Edinburgh Castle also joined the energy saving event.

Mr. Brown said:

"I was delighted to take part in the lights off campaign and that so many people, businesses and local organisations in Rutherglen and Cambuslang supported Earth Hour 2009. The success will hopefully send a powerful message to world leaders that they must deal with climate change when they meet later this year.

"In Scotland we have a good opportunity to address this ourselves this year, with the Scottish Climate Change Bill, setting a benchmark on targets and aviation emissions for the country.

"Locally, it was great to see the schools taking part. The whole thing was a great chance to encourage young people to start thinking about the planet, global warming and the part they can play in all of this - at home reducing their own energy consumption. It all adds up."

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