Earth Hour 2023 - March 25 from 8:30-9:30 p.m.

Come and join the rest of the world celebrate Earth Hour 2023 tonight, on this last Saturday of March!

For one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., switch off your lights and spend 60 minutes doing something, anything positive for our planet!

Started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to raise awareness about climate change and the protection of our planet, more than 2.2 million people and 2,000 businesses participated, switched off their lights, to show their commitment to Mother Earth!

According to the Earth Day Network, 1 billion people, from 192 countries and more than 7,000 cities have joined Earth Hour!

During the Earth Hour, all are encouraged to “switch off all non-essential lights and electronic devices for one hour to save energy and overall reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Earth Hour is not just to save energy for one hour; it is also a symbolic global event that shows we can all make a difference in the fight against climate change. If we all work together, even small changes can make a big difference!

According to WWF, stopping irreversible nature loss and climate change will depend on seven years from now.

We are in a very crucial period of time at the moment. In December last year, the Kunming-Montreal Agreement at COP15 committed the world to combat biodiversity loss by 2030. To preserve nature and biodiversity over the next seven years, we have to keep our planet below the 1.5°C climate threshold to avoid permanent damage.

The Earth Hour is just one step to fight climate change. Beyond Earth Hour, we are reminded to “help make a difference for our planet every day, to do our part. To live more sustainably every day after the event.”

Invest in Our Planet is the theme for this year’s Earth Hour.

Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day. Org messaged: “In 2023 we must come together again in partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments, and civil society are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate change towards a green, prosperous, and equitable future. We must join together in our fight for the green revolution, and for the health of future generations. The time is now to Invest in Our Planet.”

Earth Hour themes for previous years were as follows:

For 2008 - “We’ve Turned the Lights Out. Now it’s Your Turn.” For 2009 – “Vote Earth.” For 2010 - “The power of individual action for a sustainable future.” For 2011 - “Go Beyond the Hour” --aimed at inspiring people to take tangible steps towards energy conservation and emissions reduction beyond just turning off their lights for one hour on a designated night.

For 2012 and 2013 – “I Will if You Will” --where two people can come together for a common purpose, to save the environment. For 2014 – “Use Your Power to Make Change a Reality” --with each one starting with small actions to make positive change for the earth possible.

For 2015 – “Change Climate Change.” For 2016 - “Shine a Light on Climate Action.” For 2017 - “Our Choice for the Planet” --focused on “small shifts in how we consume and dispose of goods, changes can be made that show meaningful results for future generation.”

For 2018 - “Biodiversity.” For 2019 - “Reduce, Reuse, Change the Way We Live.” For 2020- “Climate Action and Sustainable Development.” For 2021- “Climate Change to Save Earth.”

And for 2022 -“Shape Our Future” - “From climate change to environmental pollution, we need to be talking about these issues and creating solutions in our communities. Only we can shape our future.”

Do invite others to join Earth Hour this Saturday! Spread the word around, use the hashtag #MyHourForEarth!