Politics
When is Earth Hour 2021 and what time should I turn my lights off?
EARTH Hour is an annual campaign by WWF that sees 10 million people switch off their lights to save energy and raise awareness about Climate Change.
Here’s how you can get involved in the fight to help save the planet.
When is Earth Hour 2021?
This year, Earth Hour takes place between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday March 27, 2021.
Iconic London buildings such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Gherkin and Buckingham Palace normally join the global switch off.
International landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House and Bangkok Grand Palace will also join the blackout.
In 2015 some 10 million Brits, 4,600 schools and 1,000 businesses took part.
What is Earth Hour and why was it started?
Earth Hour occurs once a year, and people are encouraged to turn their lights and put away their electronic devices off for just one hour in the evening.
The idea is to save energy during that hour, while also encouraging people to be more wary about how much electricity they use.
The event started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007.
Since then the movement, led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has grown to include more than 7,000 towns and cities worldwide.
For obvious reasons, streets lights, traffic lights and other safety-related signs will remain illuminated.
Why I should turn my lights off for Earth Hour?
It may seem like a small change, but if billions of us commit to turning our lights out for an hour it can make a big difference.
According to WWF Thailand, Bangkok’s electricity usage reduced by 73.34 megawatts during the hour – saving 41.6 tonnes of carbon monoxide from being produced.
In Christchurch, New Zealand, the city saw a 13 per cent drop in electricity demand during the hour.
So why not turn off the lights and eat your dinner by candlelight for just one evening?
