What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour, organised by WWF, is a global grassroots movement uniting people to take action on environmental issues and protect the planet. Engaging a massive mainstream community, Earth Hour was famously started as a lights out event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then, it has grown to engage millions of supporters in more than 190 countries and territories, to switch off their lights for an hour to show symbolic support for the planet, and to raise awareness of the environmental issues affecting it. 

Individuals and organisations worldwide have been inspired to take action for the environment, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the crowd. As the movement grows, the one-hour lights out event continues to be the symbol of a broader commitment toward nature and our planet.

But this year, WWF have plans to extend the reach, and collective effectiveness of Earth Hour.

What Can We Do This Year?
“More than 15 years later, we are now at a tipping point with our climate and nature crises, putting at risk the fate of our one home and all our futures. We are on course to breach by 2030 the 1.5°C global temperature increase limit set by the Paris Climate Agreement, and nature – the source of our very livelihoods and one of our biggest allies against the climate crisis – is also under severe threat,  facing alarming and unprecedented rates of loss globally. 

“The next 7 years are therefore crucial to all our futures – we have to stay under the 1.5°C climate threshold to avoid irreversible damage to our planet, and we need to reverse nature loss by 2030, ending the decade with more nature and biodiversity than we started, not less. To make this happen, individuals, communities, businesses, and governments must all urgently step up their efforts to protect and restore our one home. 

“With this 2030 goal in mind, we too must step things up. So this year, we’re breathing new life into Earth Hour by creating the Biggest Hour for Earth by calling on our supporters across the globe to switch off their lights, and give an hour for Earth, spending 60 minutes doing something – anything – positive for our planet. 

“With our presence in over 190 countries and territories, we can use the power of the people to turn a single Earth Hour into thousands and millions of hours of action and awareness, creating a domino effect of impact that continues well beyond the 60 minutes. Amidst our increasingly divided and polarised societies, the Biggest Hour for Earth becomes a precious moment of unity, reminding the world that our one shared home needs our help, and that we all can – and must – play a part in protecting it.

Can an Hour Change the World?
“On 25th March 2023 at 8.30pm, as landmarks and homes across the world switch off their lights, we are asking you to spend 60 minutes doing something – anything – positive for our planet.

“Just 60 minutes? Yes, just one hour. It may not seem like much, but the magic happens when you, and those like you in Asia and Africa, North and South America, Oceania and Europe – supporters in over 190 countries and territories – all give an hour for our one home, creating the Biggest Hour for Earth. 

“By doing so, this Hour can shine an unmissable global spotlight on nature loss and climate change, and the need to work together to secure a brighter future for people and the planet. 

“It could compel millions to act, and make millions more take notice.

“It could unite cities, countries, continents, showing what we all have in common, and what we stand to lose.

“It could remind us that time is precious – but that we are powerful – inspiring us to make all other hours count. 

“Could an Hour change the world? It’s a start, and it’s up to us.

For the Future of Our Planet, and Our Survival
“We envision a world where our climate is stable, nature thrives, and where all people have health, happiness, and prosperity. This future can still be a reality, but we must act now – the clock is ticking. 

“Seven, that’s the magic number. We know that the next 7 years are crucial in determining whether we stay within our planetary boundaries and under the 1.5°C temperature increase limit set by the Paris Agreement. Unless we change things, we are on track to breach this 1.5°C limit by 2030, in doing so risking irreversible environmental degradation and runaway climate change that will affect all our societies and economies.  

“An essential ally against the climate crisis is nature. Yet, we are losing nature at an alarming and unprecedented rate, putting species at risk of extinction and placing us in grave danger as we stand to lose our homes and access to basic necessities like food, clean water, and a livable environment. We have to prioritise nature’s recovery alongside that of our climate’s, so that by 2030, we end the decade with more nature than we started, not less.

So Where Does Earth Hour Fit In? 
“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.

“Amidst the hustle and bustle of our daily lives – where it can be easy to overlook the climate and nature crises we are facing – Earth Hour aims to be an unmissable global reminder of the importance of our planet, the need to protect it, and how little time we have to do so. Now more than ever, we need our increasingly divided world to come together to take urgent action for our one home. We need everyone and anyone to feel inspired and empowered to play a part, no matter how small. Most importantly, we must continue to shine a beacon of hope for a brighter future, harnessing and celebrating the power of the people.”