Introduction

Earth Hour is one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment, engaging millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories as the movement grows, the one-hour lights out event continues to be the symbol of a broader commitment toward nature and our planet. It has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people.

The first Earth Hour event was held on 31 March 2007 in Australia in support for climate action where more than 2.2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses turned their lights out for one hour.

When and How do we celebrate?

Every year, we countdown together across the globe to celebrate Earth Hour and take one iconic action: switch off the lights. But it is so much more than that. It is a symbol of unity. It is a symbol of hope. It is a symbol of power in collective action for nature.

While WWF projects and individual actions under the Earth Hour movement continue throughout the year, the annual Earth Hour lights out event is held worldwide toward the end of March to encourage individuals, households, communities and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. The first thing anyone can do to get involved is to turn off their lights during Earth Hour. But there is much, much more. The main objective is for people to take action beyond the hour, whether it is supporting a local WWF project or getting involved in Earth Hour campaigns in their own country, or starting the movement in their own community. The vision is always to do more, so make the light switch the beginning of your journey.

The second-to-last and last weekend of March is around the time of the Spring and Autumn equinoxes in the northern and southern hemispheres respectively, which allows for near coincidental sunset times in both hemispheres, thereby ensuring the greatest visual impact for a global ‘lights out’ event. This year, Earth Hour is on 28^th March between 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM local time.

Past Achievements

For the past years, people around the world have come together every Earth Hour to support efforts to tackle climate change. And, together, this has created a powerful movement that helped deliver strong global commitments to tackling this threat. Earth Hour today endeavors to spark global conversations on protecting nature not only because it is our strongest ally against to the climate crisis -  but also because of its importance in ensuring our own health, happiness, prosperity and even survival.

Ø  WWF-Uganda created the world’s first Earth Hour Forest

Ø  More than 250,000 Russians voiced support for better protection of their country’s seas and forests

Ø  Argentina used its 2013 Earth Hour campaign to help pass a Senate bill for a 3.4 million hectares Marine Protected Area in the country

Ø  Thousands of wood-saving stoves were distributed to families in Madagascar

Ø  Solar-powered lights were installed in three villages without electricity in India

Ø  In Paraguay, WWF used the Earth Hour platform to build public support to gain an extension of the logging moratorium, helping to reduce deforestation

Ø  Education programs for schools were launched in Thailand and Taiwan

Ø  Hundreds of thousands of LED lights were installed by girl scouts in the USA

Ø  More than 2,123 mitigation actions submitted by Earth Hour City Challenge 2014 participating cities

By participation for Earth Hour, individuals, communities and businesses are making a commitment to turn their lights off for an hour in acknowledgement of an act they will undertake for the benefit of the planet. I turned off the light of my house during 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM and participated in the earth hour. Did you?? Earth Hour is a campaign for anyone and everyone who wants to help make our planet – and our future - better.

How I celebrated Earth Hour?

As the clock turned 8:30 in my local time, I turned off all the lights of my house. In light of the COVID - 19 (coronavirus) outbreak, Earth Hour was celebrated online globally with the people raising their voice for the planet. As, we are staying in home isolation as our country is in locked down, I shared my activities of my climate action with my parents during the earth hour. My parents have also been the pillar supporting my Eco Journey, I felt glad to share my activities and receive amazing responces from them seeing them happy about my activities. I also posted my picture on Facebook and Instagram with #EcoGeneration and #Connect2Earth

Earth Hour is not just about turning our light off for one hour. It's a pledge to do our part to help our planet. Even if it's just a minute a day. Let’s take our action today and raise our voice for the planet!

Reference:

https://www.earthhour.org/

www.wwfnepal.org

https://www.earthreminder.com/earth-hour-2020/