The Earth Hour and why should it matter

2017 marks the 10th year of world’s biggest environmental event – The Earth Hour. Initiated by WWF, The Earth Hour was started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. The objective was to put the focus on climate change and save mother earth. From living room to conference room from masses to the corridors of power, Earth Hour has now become a worldwide phenomenon that is observed across countries.

This hour is not just about switching off the lights for an hour but about taking an hour off to sit back and think about the issues that our mother earth is facing and how can we make a difference. It is about inspiring people to live more sustainably.

Earth Hour is important because it is an opportunity for people around the world to unite and offer a gesture that shows a support for action against climate changes that are occurring as a result of electricity overuse. It is our commitment towards a better planet. Every year on the last Saturday of the month of March from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., millions across the world choose to turn off their lights for an hour. Our climate is changing with every single day, and it is important to note that many of our daily choices have a dramatic effect on the planet we live in. Reducing our carbon footprint, both in our personal life and at the workplace, is essential in order to create a robust and environmentally safe world. By observing Earth Hour we make a considerable difference in the energy consumption and help reduce effect of global warming on earth.

Five Facts about Earth Hour

• In 2005, Earth Hour was conceived as a reaction to scientific data revealing the impact of climate change. The first Earth Hour took place in 2007

• In 2015, 10,400 worldwide landmarks turned off their lights in solidarity with Earth Hour

• In 2015, 172 nations participated as a symbol for their commitment to the planet

• 2015 was also the hottest recorded year in the history on record

This year Earth Hour will take place on Saturday 25 March at 8:30pm local time. Do switch off the lights and avoid using gadgets / electronics for one hour to show you care about the future of our planet.