This Saturday (22 March) marks Earth Hour: an annual global event organised by the WWF (World Wide Fund) encouraging everyone to switch off their lights for an hour at 8:30pm.
The event aims to raise awareness of the threats to our planet and natural environment. Having met with the WWF in Parliament to discuss the campaign, Daisy Cooper MP for St Albans is urging local residents to take part.
The initiative has been running since 2007 and has brought global awareness of the pressing climate emergency and threat to biodiversity. It has seen major landmarks like the London Eye and Sydney Harbour switch their lights off for this hour. This year, iconic landmarks including the Houses of Parliament and Stirling Castle, will be taking part.
Alongside encouraging everyone to turn off their lights, Earth Hour also aims to encourage everyone to spend an hour of their time doing something they enjoy, which will help protect our planet.
WWF have many brilliant ideas for how you can get involved here and here. Ideas include using Earth Hour itself for a candlelit meal or games night, or through activities you can do anytime like installing a rain barrel to save water, growing your own vegetables, or simply going out and enjoying nature.
Daisy said:
“This initiative is a brilliant way for everyone in St Albans to do their bit to protect our planet and natural environment, and further raise awareness of the action we can all take to tackle the climate emergency.
“Earth Hour is a reminder of all the small changes we can make, with just an hour of our time, to save the planet – whether that’s turning off lights, reducing food waste, recycling or walking rather than driving. If all of us build these steps into our routine, we can make all a difference for our environment.”