Earth Hour 2024: It’s more than switching off the lights for an hour
Contributed by Willie Faber
What is Earth Hour? Earth Hour is a global movement organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The event is held every year and encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., usually on the last Saturday of March.
This year Earth Hour falls on Saturday 23 March 2024.
This event is a symbol of commitment to the planet. It was started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007.
More recently, Earth Hour has evolved to not just involve switching off lights, but also to spend 60 minutes doing something positive that will benefit the environment.
An excellent way to show your support for the environment is to take part in Earth Hour.
Here are a few ways you can participate:
Turn off: The most common approach to take part is to shut off any lights that are not necessary between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time.
Give Earth one hour: Invest sixty minutes in improving our shared home. This could be anything from planting a tree to picking up trash, or to becoming more knowledgeable about environmental concerns.
Get creative: Use social media or other digital channels to create videos or posts that share your appreciation of nature, pressing environmental concerns that are close to your heart, or positive changes that you and people in your community are making.
Get romantic: How about a candlelit dinner under the stars? Prepare a meal with locally sourced ingredients to support sustainable farming. Set up a cosy spot in your backyard or balcony, light some candles, and turn off all the lights in your house. It’s a beautiful way to connect with each other and nature, all while participating in Earth Hour.
Motivate other people: Encourage your community to preserve the environment. Talk to your neighbours, relatives, and friends. Everyone has the chance to inspire others to make a difference.
Modify your daily schedule: Earth Hour is a wonderful occasion to celebrate making little changes to your regular habits. Think about one small thing you can change to your daily routine that would have a positive long-term environmental impact, for example turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or taking shorter showers.
Earth Hour is about more than just the hour itself; it’s about what it stands for. It’s an opportunity to reflect on what more we can do to make a difference and a mark of our dedication to our world.