NAIROBI, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Saturday leveraged on digital platforms to mark Earth Hour and raise visibility on the green agenda despite travel restrictions as the result of curfew imposed by the government to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Mohamed Awer, chief executive officer of World Wide Fund for Nature-Kenya (WWF-Kenya), said the event highlighted the need for the east African nation to accelerate low carbon development while supporting ongoing efforts to contain the highly contagious disease.

He said that partners and stakeholders are encouraged to stay at home and help stop the spread of the virus but use digital tools like Skype, Zoom and mobile phones to sensitize the public on the need to adopt sustainable lifestyles.

Awer said the Earth Hour has always provided an opportunity for governments, industry and communities to rally behind actions that limit greenhouse gas emissions like switching off lights for one hour.

He said that organizers of 2020 edition of Earth Hour adhered to all the precautionary measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 as outlined in the presidential directive and the Ministry of Health guidelines.

He said that Earth Hour will always remain a people-led movement to raise awareness on sustainable practices that communities should adopt to reduce global warming.

"People need to work harmoniously together to safeguard the natural world where nature and people thrive," said Awer.

Earth Hour was started by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007 and has remained one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment.

Vincent Kigen, an ecologist, urged Kenyans to help create awareness on the green agenda through social media platforms now that most people are working from their homes.

"We should come up with creative ways that are linked to conservation of energy and environment," said Kigen.

Victor Onjolo, an environmentalist, said that communities should rise above travel limitations imposed by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic to raise awareness on environmental sustainability.

He urged nature lovers to participate in the digital discussions as they observe social distancing to keep off being infected by COVID-19.

Earth Hour has been engaging millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories and has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people. Enditem

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