Earth Hour is one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the environment.
Earth Hour 2023 was observed on 25th March 2023.
- Earth Hour 2022 was observed on 26th March 2022.
- Earth Hour 2024 will be observed on 30th March 2024.
The theme of Earth Hour 2023 is “The Biggest Hour for Earth”.
Background:
i. Earth Hour was initiated by the World Wide Fund of Nature (WWF), formerly the World Wildlife Fund and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007.
ii. The 1st ever Earth Hour event was observed on 31st March 2007 in Sydney, Australia.
- In the 1st Earth Hour event, more than 2.2 million people and 2,000 businesses switched off their lights for one hour.
Note: As part of the global Earth Hour movement, millions of people in more than 185 countries and territories turn out their lights for one hour to promote environmental protection.
Earth Hour:
i. Earth Hour is established to advocate for energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction.
ii. This occasion serves as a wake-up call for people, communities, and businesses across the world to consider their environmental influence and contribute to the collective efforts to combat climate change.
iii. Earth Hour Logo:
- The standard Earth Hour “60” logo stands for the hour-long event during which we consider the effects of our actions on the environment and take steps to improve them.
iv. Pocoyo, a children’s animated character, is the global kids’ ambassador for earth hour since 2010.
Earth Hour in India:
i. Earth Hour in India was 1st observed on 28th March 2009 and was celebrated by around 5 million people across 58 cities in India.
ii. The campaign witnesses unconditional support from people and organisations across India.
Earth Hour India gets 3 Icons joining as ‘Goodwill Ambassadors for Earth Hour India 2023’:
i. “Goodwill Ambassadors for Earth Hour India 2023” are Padma Shri Awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik, a world-renowned Indian sand artist; Ranveer Brar, celebrity chef and MasterChef India Judge; and Nakash Aziz, a renowned composer and singer.
ii. Three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej will be the ‘Face of Earth Hour India 2023.’
Note: Amir Khan was the 1st Earth Hour brand ambassador for Earth Hour India.