On a Saturday night at the end of March 2007, Sydney was plunged into darkness as 2,000 businesses and 2 million individuals turned off their lights for an hour to draw attention to climate change.
Now, WWF’s Earth Hour has spread beyond Australia to become an annual, global event that unites the world in support of people and the planet.
This year, people were invited to turn off their lights for an hour from 8.30pm on 23 March. But Earth Hour also encouraged everyone to give an hour to help protect our planet throughout the year.
By spending just 60 minutes taking action we can collectively make a huge difference.
And you don’t have to give your hour for Earth during Earth Hour – it can be whenever suits you, at home, at work or anywhere!
We’ve got some suggestions below for what you can achieve in an hour. Share the list with friends to get them involved too.
You can sign and share a petition online, or get outdoors for a litter pick or to make your garden a wildlife haven.
Together, we can be part of the world’s biggest environmental movement for positive action, and use Earth Hour as a reminder to make all the other hours count.
10 ways to give an hour for Earth
In a group or by yourself, there are loads of ways to make a difference in just one hour. And you don’t have to do it during Earth Hour!
- Prepare a plant-based meal that’s as sustainable as possible – seasonal, local and organic
- Watch the Saving Our Wild Isles documentary on iPlayer – invite friends round for a screening
- Calculate your carbon footprint, then make a plan to reduce it
- Spend an hour making your outdoor space more wildlife-friendly
- Do a home energy audit – check for draughts or electricals left on standby
- Do a litter pick in your street, park, school or nearest outdoor space
- Start a conversation with friends or family about an environmental issue you feel strongly about
- Contact your MP to ask them to stand up for nature
- Ask your employer to arrange a workplace screening of Save Our Wild Isles: The Business of Nature
Give an hour for Earth
Visit the Earth Hour page to find out more about how just 60 minutes can make a big difference
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