We all have a part to play in taking care of our planet. Did you know that each of us, with small actions done together by many, can make a big difference? One easy way you can help make an impact is by honoring Earth Hour, which asks all global citizens to turn off non-essential lights for one hour in an effort to conserve energy and mark a commitment to the Earth.

What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour, organized by the World Wildlife Fund, 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 185 countries and territories, inspiring individuals and organizations worldwide to take action for the environment, and 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. 

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. The second-to-last and last weekend of March is around the time of the Spring and Autumn equinoxes in the northern and southern hemispheres respectively, which allows for near coincidental sunset times in both hemispheres, thereby ensuring the greatest visual impact for a global ‘lights out’ event. 

Celebrating Earth Hour

Turning off all non-essential lights in your home at 8:30 PM local time on Saturday, the 25th of March, is the primary way to get involved with Earth Hour. But there are plenty of additional ways to extend this celebration and give more of your time.

One suggestion from Earth Hour is to spend an hour or more learning more about our planet through articles, videos, or podcasts dedicated to the topic. Getting your community involved is also a great way to increase the size of your impact and have a lot of fun. Be sure to check out this Earth Hour Community Page where you can download the community engagement handbook. Other ideas include spending time outdoors or attending a related event

Looking to incorporate STEM into celebrating Earth Hour? Why not take the hour during the darkness to star gaze? This sky calendar from NASA can help you determine what astronomical events to look for on any date and time in your local time zone. Get kids excited about Earth Hour by leading up to the event with these glow in the dark STEM experiments, then enjoy their glowing effects when it’s time to turn out the lights. 

Also, consider using this time in the darkness to prepare for what to do in a power-outage scenario. Review where essentials like flashlights, batteries, candles, and other supplies can be accessed ahead of the hour, then enact a plan to retrieve these materials and what else to do when the lights do get turned off. This critical thinking game is a fun way to help kids learn to navigate a power-outage scenario in total darkness. 

How will you celebrate Earth Hour and commit to our planet?