Every year, millions of people around the world turn off their lights for one hour to take part in a symbolic movement that highlights the need for urgent action to combat climate change. Earth Hour is an annual international event held by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) on the last (or second to last) Saturday of March. The event continues to grow, inspiring people, businesses and governments to contribute to a more sustainable future. This year, Earth Hour is scheduled for Saturday, 22 March 2025, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm local time.
History of Earth Hour
In 2004, WWF Australia drew attention to scientific findings on climate change on the planet and, with the help of an advertising agency, Leo Burnett Sydney, decided to create a local initiative to raise awareness about energy consumption and encourage as many people as possible to engage in environmental issues. The idea of a large-scale switch-off was initially created under the working title “The Big Flick”. In 2006, WWF Australia pitched their idea to Fairfax Media, who, along with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, agreed to support the event – thus, on 31 March 2007, more than 2.2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses in Sydney switched off their lights for one hour, which marked the beginning of the Earth Hour movement.
Inspired by the Sydney Earth Hour, San Francisco launched its own “Lights Out” initiative in October 2007. Later, the name was changed to “Earth Hour” to shift the focus away from simply turning off the lights and increasing attention to environmental issues. Following the success of the events, WWF decided to continue the campaign, and on March 29, 2008, from 8 to 9 p.m. local time, Earth Hour took place globally with over 400 cities backing the initiative, and 35 countries serving as official flagship cities. During Earth Hour, non-essential lights were turned off at landmarks worldwide, and even Google’s homepage went “dark” for the day.
Since then, it has grown into a large-scale annual event that unites people, companies and governments, with more than 190 countries participating in switch-off events and activities, to show their support for nature and climate.
A noble initiative
What started as a single city turning off its lights for an hour has now expanded into a worldwide movement, with landmarks, homes, and businesses participating annually, to draw public attention to environmental issues and climate change.
On the one hand, this event could give people a false impression of the situation; it may seem that if we turn off the lights once a year, all of our energy issues will be resolved. Some estimates claim that turning off the lights for one hour has no effect on climate change. According to the World Nuclear Association, electricity accounts for only 20% of total energy use, however, the generation of electricity is responsible for over 40% of all CO2 emissions.
Today, opinions often converge on the symbolic purpose of this event: on the willingness of people to act and unite, to engage and be conscious about the future of our planet. The real goal of Earth Hour is to encourage people around the world to treat nature and its resources with care and to spread knowledge about the need for sustainable energy consumption and climate change. Giving Earth an hour serves as a reminder that even little deeds can have a significant impact. The Galápagos Islands have banned plastics and other disposable packaging as an outcome of Earth Hour, along with the other numerous environmental improvements, it has led to the establishment of the Marine Protected Area in French Polynesia.
The WWF highlights the following key reasons why something as simple as turning off the lights can actually make a difference and save the planet:
- Being a symbol of hope for nature and climate
- Bringing local and global communities together
- Inspiring many people to make small, positive changes
- Introducing and pushing for major legislative changes for the environment
- Supporting the next generation to care for and protect our planet
How Earth Hour is celebrated worldwide
Every year, famous buildings and monuments go dark for an hour, reminding us of the importance of caring for the environment. Among them: the Eiffel Tower (Paris), the Colosseum (Rome), the Red Square (Moscow), the Empire State Building (New York), the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin), Grand Place (Brussels), the Opera House (Sydney), the Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco), Big Ben and Tower Bridge (London) and many more across the globe.
GOING DARK: From the Empire State Building in New York, to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, cities around the world shut the lights off at landmarks and tourist sites for Earth Hour on Saturday night, in a call for global action on climate change. https://t.co/L6dLdSE8Ml pic.twitter.com/vgwaHMfWpW
— ABC News (@ABC) April 1, 2019
Earth Hour is more than just an hour without light – it is a powerful movement that unites people globally in the fight against climate change. By participating, people can express their commitment to the planet and spark long-term action to protect the environment. Small steps, when taken together, can lead to a brighter and more sustainable world for future generations.
