Turn down the heat on Netherlands' warm sweater day

Today is Warm Sweater Day in the Netherlands, a day on which environmental organization Klimaatverbond calls on people to turn down the heating and instead wear a warm sweater to stay warm. With this campaign, the organization wants to draw attention to energy saving as a contribution to fighting climate change.

Small actions done by many people can have a major effect, a spokesperson for Klimaatverbond said to RTL Nieuws. "Because if everyone puts the heating one degree lower for one day, that saves the energy of the annual use of three Wadden Islands."

Over 50 municipalities, banks, hotels, publishers and retail chains are participating in Warm Sweater Day today. Some companies and schools are giving out prizes for the most beautiful sweater, and handing out soup or hot chocolate to help keep participants warm.

Last year the weather was icy on Warm Sweater Day. This year it won't be too bad. Maximum temperatures will be around 6 degrees, with occasional sunshine during the afternoon, according to Buienradar. Though some showers are also expected, possibly accompanied by hail.

This is the 12th edition of Warm Sweater Day. It celebrates the Kyoto Protocol - an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in which members agreed to meet internationally binding emission reduction targets. Warm Sweater Day is held in February, because the Kyoto Protocol came into force in February 2005.