This month, millions of people will switch their lights off as part of Earth Hour. For 60 minutes, darkness will spread across the globe. Landmarks like the London Eye and Sydney Opera House will turn the world’s city skylines dark. And for one hour, millions will stop and take notice of the climate emergency.
What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour is an annual campaign from WWF to draw attention to the climate emergency. It shows governments around the world that people are concerned about humanity’s impact on the climate.
The first Earth Hour was in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then, over 190 countries and territories have taken part. And in 2023, the lights went off for a combined total of 410,000 hours.
When is Earth Hour 2024?
Earth Hour 2024 is on Saturday, 23 March at 8.30pm. It lasts until 9:30pm local time.
Add the event to your calendar so you don’t miss out:
Anyone can take part in Earth Hour 2024, and you don’t need to sign up or register. All you need to do is switch off any non-essential lights for 60 minutes. That’s all you need to do.
Switching your lights off has the added benefit of lowering your electricity use. In fact, you could save around £7 in Great Britain and £9 in Northern Ireland (NI) a year by switching off your lights when you leave the room.
Six things you can do during Earth Hour 2024
You don’t have to sit in the dark for an hour. Put the time to good use with one of these activities:
If several houses on your street take part in Earth Hour, there’ll be less light pollution. And with a clearer night sky, you should be able to see a lot more stars. Download a stargazing app and spend the hour checking out the cosmos.
Take this time to do some mindful activities by candlelight. For example, you could read a book or play a board game with the family.
Going dark doesn’t mean you can’t use your devices. Chat with others taking part in Earth Hour on social media and help raise awareness of the movement. This year Earth Hour encourages people to use the hashtag #MyHourForEarth.
Earth Hour is all about protecting the natural world, so why not immerse yourself in nature? Walking and wheeling are one of the best methods of active travel. They help to:
improve your physical and mental health
lower carbon emissions from transport
save money on fuel
Take this opportunity to think about how you can lower your electricity use after Earth Hour is over.
For example, replacing all the bulbs in your home with LED bulbs could reduce your emissions by up to 35kg in GB and 35kg in NI. For more advice, read our guide on energy-efficient lighting.
While you’re at it, it would be a good time to unplug all the devices that are on standby. This is one of the easiest ways to lower your electricity bills, saving you £45 in GB and £55 in NI a year. The darkness of Earth Hour should help you spot those telltale red standby lights.
What has Earth Hour achieved?
As well as encouraging people to switch off their lights, Earth Hour has:
Created a 3.5 million hectare marine-protected area in Argentina.
Established a 2,700-hectare protected forest in Uganda.
Helped pass legislation for the protection of seas and forests in Russia.
Initiated the planting of 20,000 mangrove seedlings in 13 cities in Indonesia.
