Earth Hour is an annual event that takes place on the last Saturday of March, where individuals, businesses, and communities around the world turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to show their commitment towards protecting the planet. This year, Earth Hour 2023 will be celebrated on March 25th, and the theme is “Pledge for the Planet”. This theme aims to encourage individuals and organizations to make concrete and measurable commitments towards reducing their carbon footprint and contributing towards a more sustainable future. As the world continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change, Earth Hour serves as a reminder of the urgent need for collective action to safeguard our planet. In this article, we will delve deeper into the significance of Earth Hour, explore the theme of “Pledge for the Planet”, and discuss the actions that we can take to make a positive impact on the environment.
What is Earth Hour? – Meaning of Earth Hour
Earth Hour is an annual global event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. The event encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time, on the last Saturday of March. The purpose of Earth Hour is to raise awareness about climate change, the need to reduce carbon emissions, and promote environmental sustainability. It has grown into a global movement with participants in over 190 countries and territories around the world. Through collective action, Earth Hour aims to inspire people to take small but significant steps towards building a sustainable future for the planet.
Upcoming important days in March 2023
Earth Hour History
In 2007, WWF Sydney and its partners introduced the Earth Hour event, which began as a symbolic lights-out event to raise awareness about climate change. The inaugural event was held on March 31, 2007, in Sydney at 7:30 pm local time. The following year, the event was held internationally on March 29. Since then, the Earth Hour event has gained popularity and has been observed annually on the last Saturday of March. The event encourages people around the world to turn off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to send a powerful message about the need to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. By participating in Earth Hour, people can show their support for environmental sustainability and help raise awareness about the urgent need to take action to protect the planet.
First Earth Hour
The first Earth Hour event was held on March 31, 2007, in Sydney, Australia. It was initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Sydney and its partners as a symbolic lights-out event to raise awareness about climate change. During the event, individuals and businesses were encouraged to turn off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm local time. The event was a huge success, with an estimated 2.2 million people and over 2,000 businesses participating. The event gained international attention, and the following year, Earth Hour was held globally on March 29, 2008. Since then, the event has been held annually on the last Saturday of March, with millions of people around the world participating in this global movement for environmental conservation and sustainability.
Significance of Earth Hour
The Earth Hour event, which involves supporters in over 190 countries and territories, aims to promote a brighter future for people and the planet. Now in its 17th year, Earth Hour has evolved beyond being just a lights-out event. According to the official website, it has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact and aims to drive major legislative changes through the power of people and collective action. While turning off the lights for an hour may not have a significant impact on yearly emissions, the act of collective solidarity can serve as a wake-up call for people around the world.
In 2023, WWF’s Earth Hour is urging individuals, communities, and businesses to switch off their lights and engage in positive actions for the planet for 60 minutes. To create awareness about conservation efforts, several events have been planned on March 25, including a sustainable fashion show by WWF-Mongolia featuring upcycled redesigned clothes and a traditional Earth Hour concert and nature hikes hosted by WWF-Latvia. Additionally, numerous local celebrity influencers are expected to show their support for the event.
Which group organizes earth hour every year?
Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), an international conservation organization. The event was first introduced by WWF Sydney and its partners in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event to raise awareness about climate change. Since then, WWF has been coordinating and promoting Earth Hour globally to encourage individuals, communities, and businesses to participate in the event and take action to reduce carbon emissions and promote environmental sustainability.
Earth Hour India
To create the “Biggest Hour for Earth,” WWF-India is urging the public to switch off lights and electrical appliances between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm. As part of the event, the Kerala State office of the organization is planning a “You have the power to light up your life” campaign on the Shanghumughom beach, where people can cycle to light up an LED pandal from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The pandal has been developed by FBR, a student club of the Government Engineering College, Barton Hill.
For this year’s Earth Hour, WWF has named three-time Grammy award-winning composer and environmentalist Ricky Kej as the “Face of Earth Hour India 2023.” Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, and musician Nakash Aziz have also joined the campaign as goodwill ambassadors.
World Earth Hour Quiz
Below are 10 multiple choice questions and their answers for a World Earth Hour quiz.
When is Earth Hour celebrated every year?
- A) First Saturday of March
- B) Last Saturday of March
- C) First Saturday of April
- D) Last Saturday of April
Answer: B) Last Saturday of March
In which year was the first Earth Hour held?
- A) 2005
- B) 2006
- C) 2007
- D) 2008
Answer: C) 2007
What is the main goal of Earth Hour?
- A) To save energy and reduce electricity bills
- B) To raise awareness about climate change and promote sustainable living
- C) To increase profits for businesses
- D) To provide a platform for political activism
Answer: B) To raise awareness about climate change and promote sustainable living
Which organization is the main organizer of Earth Hour?
- A) United Nations
- B) World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- C) Greenpeace
- D) International Energy Agency (IEA)
Answer: B) World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
How long does Earth Hour last?
- A) 30 minutes
- B) 45 minutes
- C) 60 minutes
- D) 90 minutes
Answer: C) 60 minutes
Which country has the highest participation rate in Earth Hour?
- A) Australia
- B) Canada
- C) China
- D) India
Answer: A) Australia
What is the theme for Earth Hour 2023?
- A) Connect2Earth
- B) Change Climate Change
- C) Speak Up for Nature
- D) Earth Hour 2023: The Biggest Hour for Earth
Answer: D) Earth Hour 2023: The Biggest Hour for Earth
How many countries and territories participate in Earth Hour?
- A) 100
- B) 150
- C) 190
- D) 250
Answer: C) 190
What is the significance of turning off lights for an hour during Earth Hour?
- A) It saves a significant amount of energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions
- B) It is a symbolic gesture that has no real impact
- C) It is a way to protest against government policies
- D) It is a religious observance
Answer: B) It is a symbolic gesture that has no real impact, but serves to raise awareness about environmental issues.
Which famous monument is known to turn off its lights for Earth Hour?
- A) Eiffel Tower
- B) Empire State Building
- C) Sydney Opera House
- D) Taj Mahal
Answer: A) Eiffel Tower
Earth Hour Speech
Below is a sample Earth Hour speech:
Dear fellow Earthlings,
Today, we celebrate Earth Hour, a global event that reminds us of the importance of taking care of our planet. For the past 17 years, people all over the world have turned off their lights for one hour on the last Saturday of March. This small act of solidarity sends a powerful message to the world that we care about our planet and want to take action to protect it.
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges that we face today. Rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather events are just a few of the consequences of our unsustainable way of life. But we can make a difference. Each and every one of us can take simple steps to reduce our carbon footprint and protect our planet.
Earth Hour is more than just a symbolic gesture. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on our actions and make changes in our daily lives. We can reduce our energy consumption by turning off lights and unplugging electronics when we’re not using them. We can choose to walk, bike or take public transportation instead of driving alone in a car. We can eat more plant-based meals and reduce our meat consumption. These are just a few examples of the many ways we can make a difference.
This year, Earth Hour is calling on us to make the “Biggest Hour for Earth.” Let’s join the millions of people around the world who are taking action to protect our planet. Together, we can make a difference and create a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.
Thank you for joining me in celebrating Earth Hour. Let’s continue to work together to protect our planet and create a brighter future for all.
Happy Earth Hour!
Difference Between Earth Hour and Earth Day
Below is the difference between Earth Hour and Earth Day:
| Criteria | Earth Hour | Earth Day |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Raise awareness about climate change and encourage people to take action to reduce their carbon footprint | Raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect the planet |
| Date | Last Saturday of March | April 22 |
| Duration | One hour | 24 hours |
| Observance | People turn off lights for one hour at 8:30 pm local time | Various events and activities are held around the world |
| Origin | Introduced in 2007 by WWF Sydney | First celebrated in 1970 in the US |
| Scope | Global event | Global event |
| Symbol | Turning off lights | Planting trees |
| Theme | Changes each year | Changes each year |
| Participation | Individuals, communities, and businesses | Individuals, communities, and businesses |
| Impact | Raises awareness and promotes individual action | Raises awareness and promotes individual and collective action, and may lead to policy changes |
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Earth Hour FAQs
Earth Hour is observed on the last Saturday of March and this year it will be observed on March 25 at 8.30 pm local time.
The official theme for Earth Hour day 2023 has not been announced yet. The Earth Hour theme changes every year, and it is usually announced a few months before the event takes place.
During Earth Hour, people around the world turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time. The goal is to raise awareness about climate change and encourage people to take action to protect the planet.
You can participate in Earth Hour by turning off your non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time on the day of the event. You can also spread the word about Earth Hour on social media and encourage your friends and family to participate.
The purpose of celebrating Earth Hour is to raise awareness about climate change and encourage people to take action to protect the planet. By turning off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour, people around the world can send a powerful message about the need to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment for future generations. Earth Hour also serves as a reminder that small actions can have a big impact when we all work together.