Tune in. Switch off

Earth Hour is celebrated across 180 countries. Pic/Instagram

The first Earth Hour was observed in Sydney in 2007 with a symbolic lights-out event. Since then, it has evolved into one of the world's largest grassroots movements for environmental conservation, uniting people in more than 180 countries and territories.

The event addresses the ongoing climate crisis. Representation Pic

It has also expanded to encompass far more than just the symbolic action of switching off by serving as a catalyst for positive environmental impact and driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of collective action. In fact, in 2016, 50,000 citizens in Spain came together for Earth Hour to urge their government to stop using fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy.

Today, the goal of Earth Hour is to increase awareness and spark global conversations about protecting nature not only to combat the climate crisis, but to also ensure the health, happiness, and survival of humanity.

The very first year of the new decade holds immense potential for change as leaders and policymakers around the world will set the environmental agenda for the next 10 years and beyond. This makes Earth Hour 2021 especially significant, as larger participation could spark meaningful dialogue about environmental concerns and concrete steps towards a greener tomorrow.

To do your bit, you can switch off your lights for an hour on Saturday, March 27, at 8.30 pm. This year, WWF (which has conceived this movement) is also sharing a video that can be shared on social media, to help put the spotlight, physically and virtually, on the planet. The dedicated website also has a number of virtual events that you can participate in.

Log on to: earthhour.org