Earth Hour 2024
19th March 2024
19th March 2024
On Saturday 23rd March 2024 at 8.30pm the globe will be acknowledging the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour. Millions of people around the world will switch off their lights for one hour to show their commitment to conservation of the planet.
Earth Hour, WWF’s landmark movement, started as a symbolic ‘lights out event’ in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now celebrated in more than 180 countries and territories as a global moment of solidarity for the planet.
In the past decade, Earth Hour has inspired millions to support and participate in critical climate and conservation projects led by WWF and many others, helping drive climate policy, awareness and action.
Among its highlights, the movement has helped in the creation of a 3.4 million hectare marine-protected area in Argentina, a 2,700-hectare Earth Hour forest in Uganda and helped pass new legislation for the protection of seas and forests in Russia.
Online, #EarthHour, #BiggestHourForEarth and related terms have generated over 3.5 billion impressions in the run up to Earth Hour, trending in at least 30 countries worldwide on the night.
The movement has been a game-changer for popularising climate and environmental action across the globe. As global biodiversity declines at an unprecedented rate, Earth Hour is focussing its efforts on galvanising mainstream support for action on biodiversity and nature.
Our planet faces the dual challenge of climate change and plummeting biodiversity. With this in mind, Earth Hour aims to mobilise individuals, businesses and governments to be a part of the conversation and solutions needed to build a healthy, sustainable future – and World – for all.
WWF and Earth Hour teams around the world will be using the movement to highlight the environmental issues most relevant in their country or region.
“Biodiversity and nature underpin our lives, our economies, our health, our well-being, our happiness. It is the foundation of our living planet. Today, as we push the planet and its natural systems to the edge, Earth Hour is our chance to use our power, as individuals and as a collective, to demand and take action to protect this web of life in return for all it gives us. For the benefit of all life on Earth and of our own future,” says Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International.
“Earth Hour is a testament to the power of a simple idea to inspire people to take action to protect the Earth. As we take an hour to reflect on the vital role that biodiversity and nature play in our lives, let this be the spark that galvanises action for transformation to a more sustainable future” says Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Visit earthhour.org to know what’s happening in locations around the world for Earth Hour 2024 and read individuals’ stories about what they are doing for our planet.
As we revel in the beauty and history of The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, let’s also take a moment to reflect on our impact on the planet. Whilst we appreciate it may not be possible for people and businesses to turn off their lights for an hour, we encourage you to think about turning off non-essential lights, symbolising a commitment to sustainability and conservation. Together, we can make a difference for our planet, starting right here in our cherished community of Tunbridge Wells.