Can Just an Hour Change the World?

Earth hour is coming soon to a venue near you. On March 25, 2023 at 8:30 pm local time, you can dedicate just 60 minutes to help save the planet.

Founded in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, Earth Hour has been known as the Lights Off movement. That’s because  people, and even municipalities turn off the lights in major cities around the globe for 60 minutes on Earth Hour to show solidarity with the planet. From the Sydney Opera House to the Eiffel Tower and across the ocean to the Empire State Building, buildings around the world go dark.

Every year, people from 190 countries participate in the annual event. “By ‘switching off’ your lights or switching off from daily habits and distractions and doing something positive for the planet, we can turn a single Earth Hour into thousands and millions of hours of action,” says Dr Kirsten Schuijt, director general of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International, told Euro News.

Banking climate hours
This year, according to a blog from Earth Hour, the organization is trying to get as many people as possible to join together for “The Biggest Hour for Earth” and to bank as many climate pledges as possible. The new Hour Bank asks people to pledge an hour of their time to help the planet.

The goal is to bank over 60,000 hours or seven years’ worth of  environmental activism. That’s because the planet has only seven years left to stay under the 1.5 Celsius climate threshold and to prevent a climate crisis.

The Hour Bank has already received pledges from people from 78 countries including France, Jamaica, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and China, so it is truly a global effort.

Yves Calmette, senior director of brand and network communications at WWF International and global campaign director for Earth Hour said in the blog, “ 2023 must be a year of change to reach our nature-positive targets, and we need everyone to help clock as many hours as possible for the planet. Earth Hour is a collective movement that everyone can be part of.”

What can you do?
There is a myriad of events that you can participate in for Earth Hour. Supporters can sign the Voice For the Planet petition or advocate for legislation that will promote renewable energy and eliminate the use of fossil fuels.

You can participate in events like marathons, nature hikes or stargaze at an observatory.. There are organized events around the world, reported Euro News. In Sofia, Bulgaria, there will be an event that features stand-up comedy, live music and a nature quiz. Check out an up-to-date list of events here. There really is something for everyone.

No matter what you choose to do, participating in Earth Hour will help raise awareness of environmental issues and that could go a long way in solving the climate crisis and saving the planet. After all, Earth is the only home humanity has.

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