What is Earth Hour?

About Earth Hour

• It is a global grassroots movement uniting people to take action on environmental issues and protect the planet.
• It is organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
• It started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event and has since grown into a global movement involving millions of people in over 190 countries and territories.
• It takes place towards the end of March every year.
• “Earth Hour” encourages people to switch off all lights for an hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, to promote awareness of climate change challenges and energy conservation.
• Governments and companies also participate by turning off non-essential lights in their buildings, monuments, and landmarks to raise awareness about the impact of energy consumption on our planet.
• This symbolic act, known as the ‘lights off’ moment, unites people worldwide in a show of support for the planet and serves as a reminder of the environmental issues facing us.

Key Facts about World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

• It is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1961 in Morges, Switzerland, to protect endangered species of wildlife and preserve natural habitats.
• Mission: To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.
• WWF works with a broad spectrum of partners, including governments, industry, and local communities, to find solutions to the challenges that face our natural world.

Q1) What is World Earth Day?

It is an annual event celebrated on April 22 to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote global efforts to protect the Earth's natural resources. The first World Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, in the United States. It was organized by a group of environmental activists led by US Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was concerned about the negative impact of industrialization and pollution on the environment. Since then, it has become a global movement that encourages individuals and communities to take action towards protecting our planet.

Source: Switch off non-essential appliances during Earth Hour on Mar 23, urges BSES