What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour is an annual tradition launched by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, to raise awareness about climate change. Participants in more than 190 countries will turn off their lights for one hour on Saturday. World landmarks – such as the Sydney Opera House, the Gate of India, the Beijing Palm Center in China, the Brandenburg Gate in Germany, the Colosseum in Italy, the Empire State Building in the United States and Christ the Redeemer in Brazil – – turn off their lights to support the campaign.
What is the purpose of Earth Hour?
The WWF describes the event as a symbol of “unity” and “hope” for a sustainable future. “Earth Hour aims to raise awareness and spark global discussions on nature conservation, climate change and cooperation to shape a better future for all of us,” the WWF said in its Earth Hour website. The Earth Hour campaign has led to other actions related to reducing climate change. The WWF division in Uganda, for example, created the first “Earth Hour” in 2013. Argentina also used its Earth Hour campaign in 2013 to help pass the Senate bill on a marine protected area of 3.4 million hectares (8.4 million acres) in the country, according to the WWF.
How can I participate?
You can mark Earth Hour by turning off your lights from 8:30 to 21:30 in your local time zone. The official Earth Hour website suggests seven ways supporters can spend their time without lights, including reconnecting with nature and watching local Earth Hour events in their communities. WWF also advises supporters to “take action beyond the clock, whether supporting a local WWF project, participating in Earth Hour campaigns in their home country, or starting a movement in their own community.”
