Overview

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) encouraging individuals, businesses, and governments to turn off non-essential lights for one hour (8:30-9:30 PM local time) on the last Saturday of March. Started in Sydney in 2007, it has become the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement.

Origins

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia on March 31, 2007 as a symbolic lights-off event. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and 2,000+ businesses participated, reducing the city’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour.

Global Expansion

2008: Earth Hour went global—50 million people across 35 countries participated
2011: 1.8 billion people in 135+ countries
2023: 190+ countries and territories

Iconic landmarks go dark: Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, Sydney Opera House, Big Ben, Colosseum, Christ the Redeemer, etc.

Beyond the Hour

Earth Hour evolved from symbolic gesture to year-round climate action platform:

• Community environmental projects (tree planting, plastic cleanup)
• Policy advocacy (renewable energy, forest protection)
• Fundraising for WWF conservation programs
• “Earth Hour Blue” crowdfunding platform for environmental projects

Cultural Impact

While critics note that one hour of lights-off has minimal climate impact, supporters argue Earth Hour’s value lies in:

• Awareness: Billions exposed to climate messaging
• Community building: Collective action despite geographic distance
• Political pressure: Demonstrates public climate concern
• Gateway: Introduces people to deeper environmental engagement

References

• Earth Hour official: https://www.earthhour.org/
• WWF Earth Hour reports
• Energy consumption studies on Earth Hour impact