(CNN) Every year, millions of men and women from more than 190 nations and territories coordinate to turn off their lights for just 1 hour. The occasion is aspect of an annual tradition to raise awareness about climate alter.
Here’s what you require to know ahead of the 16th annual Earth Hour celebration.
What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour was launched in 2007 by the Planet Wildlife Fund and its partners in Sydney, Australia, according to a news release from the organization. The nonprofit describes Earth Hour as the “biggest worldwide grassroots movement for the atmosphere.”
“Earth Hour aims to improve awareness and spark worldwide conversations on safeguarding nature, tackling the climate crisis, and operating with each other to shape a brighter future for us all,” the WWF says on the Earth Hour web site.
The Earth Hour campaign has led to other actions associated to curbing climate alter. The WWF’s chapter in Uganda, for instance, made the initial “Earth Hour Forest” in 2013. Also, Argentina made use of its 2013 Earth Hour campaign to assist pass a Senate bill for eight.four million acres of marine protected region in the nation, according to the WWF.
What time is Earth Hour?
To participate, all you will require to do is turn off the lights in your property from eight:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in your nearby time zone on Saturday.
Iconic landmarks like the Empire State Creating in New York, the Space Needle in Seattle and the Willis Tower in Chicago will recognize Earth Hour by going dark.
How turning off the lights aids the atmosphere
According to the WWF, turning off the lights is a “symbolic” way to raise awareness about climate alter.
“The hour of darkness pulls us out of the busyness of our everyday routines and permits us to reflect on the 1 property we all share,” stated the organization in its news release. “In the face of accelerating biodiversity loss and climate alter, there has never ever been a much more vital time to come with each other and take action for our collective future.”
The Earth Hour web site points out that the planet is on track to attain more than 1.five degrees Celsius of warming, “in undertaking so risking irreversible environmental degradation and runaway climate alter that will influence all our societies and economies.”
The organization encourages participants to use their lights-off hour “undertaking one thing good for our planet.”
This could possibly imply reading an short article or listening to a podcast about biodiversity or climate alter, spending time outdoors to reconnect with nature, choosing up trash in your neighborhood, or sharing details about climate alter with pals, family members, or nearby politicians.
