This set of photos taken on March 23, 2024 shows the Eiffel Tower before the lights go out (left) and the Eiffel Tower with the lights off (right) during the Earth Hour environmental campaign, in Paris, on March 23. 2024. (Photo by Dimitar Delkov/AFP)
Tonight there is a global blackout that seeks to raise awareness about the sustainable future of the planet. Since 2007, every year Earth Hourthe world's largest environmental event, was created in Australia by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The Buddha statue, the tallest Gautama Buddha statue in the world, is seen with the lights turned off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign at Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad on March 23, 2024. (Photo by NOAH SEELAM / AFP)
This event seeks to raise awareness about problems such as Global warming, pollution and climate changeturning off the lights for an hour to create a powerful visual message in cities with normal lighting.
This set of photos taken on March 23, 2024 shows the Phoenix Center before (top) and after (bottom) the lights turned off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing. (Photo by Jade Zhao/AFP)
Over time, countries around the world participated, turning off the lights at famous monuments to show support.
Earth Hour is a global reminder of the urgent need to protect our planet, and WWF suggests many actions to contribute, from turning off the lights and improving energy efficiency in the home, to enjoying and promoting nature.
The Croatian State Archive building before and after its closure to commemorate the Earth Hour environmental campaign organized by WWF to raise awareness about the environment (Photo by DAMIR SENCAR / AFP)
Moreover, in the face of growing concern about climate change, which according to surveys is ranked as the biggest global problem, small positive actions can address climate anxiety, demonstrating that science, technology and future generations can offer hopeful solutions.
This photo taken on March 23, 2024, shows the Palace of Culture in Warsaw parked to commemorate the Earth Hour environmental campaign organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to raise awareness about environmental issues. (Photo by Wojtek Radwanski/AFP)
WWF sees Earth Hour as a symbol of unity and hope in the face of the environmental crisis, bringing people together beyond their differences, especially those who are not yet committed to the cause.
The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station before the lights are switched on and off (below) to mark Earth Hour. Environmental campaign in Mumbai. (Photo by Indranil Mukherjee/AFP)
The event has evolved in 2023 into “The Greatest Hour on Earth,” encouraging people to symbolically disconnect and reconnect with the environment.
From 8:30pm in each time zone, major monuments around the world depart.
Prambanan Temple, one of the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, illuminated (below) and with the lights off (above) during the ground. It's time for an environmental campaign in Yogyakarta (Photo by Devi Rahman/AFP)
In addition to turning off the lights, this year people are encouraged to spend time doing things that benefit the environment.
A drone view shows the ruins of the ancient Parthenon atop the Acropolis Hill as the lights are turned off during Earth Hour, in Athens, Greece, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Messinas
In 2023, people from 190 countries will contribute more than 410,000 hours to the planet, adapting activities according to their interests thanks to the new watch bank proposed by WWF.
This set of photos taken on March 23, 2024 shows the Telangana State Secretariat building with the lights turning on and then turning off (above) to commemorate the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Hyderabad. (Photo by Noah Salam/AFP)
These actions are in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda, which seeks to reduce biodiversity loss and carbon footprint, and promote awareness and collective action.
Buckingham Palace is shown with the lights turned off as part of Earth Hour in London, Britain, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Holly Adams
The importance of these efforts is underscored by the record high temperatures in 2023, which threaten to make climate change and its consequences for nature and humanity irreversible.
A view of Piccadilly Circus before Earth Hour (Reuters/Yan Tessier).
This context requires a unified global response, not only to protect the environment, but also to restore the environment.
The ancient Colosseum after the lights go out for Earth Hour in Rome, Italy, March 23, 2024 – Reuters/Remo Caselli
Big Ben is shown with its lights off as part of Earth Hour in London, Britain, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Holly Adams
A photo collage shows St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral before (top), during (middle), and after (bottom) the lights being turned off for Earth Hour, in Sofia, Bulgaria, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov
A photo collage shows India Gate before (top) and after the lights go out for Earth Hour in New Delhi, India, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Sharafat Ali
Malaysians participate in Earth Hour by turning off lights and lighting candles to symbolically show support for the planet and raise awareness about environmental issues, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussein
Malaysians turn off lights and light 60 candles, symbolizing 60 minutes of Earth Hour, in support of the planet and to raise awareness about environmental issues that affect them, in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Hasnur Hussein
A photo collage shows the Grand Palace before (top) and after the lights go out for Earth Hour in Bangkok, Thailand, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Shalini Thirasoba
A photo collage of the Sydney Opera House before (top) and after the lights go out for Earth Hour in Sydney, Australia, March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Nikki Short
A photo collage of Merlion Park before (top) and after the lights go out in the central business district for Earth Hour in Singapore on March 23, 2024. REUTERS/Edgar So
