Earth Hour is a global event organized by the World Wildlife Fund that seeks to raise awareness of the impacts electricity has on global warming. On the last Saturday in March, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm (local time), the WWF encourages people, buildings and companies to turn off or unplug all non-essential electrical equipment for the hour.

 

Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million people and 2,000 businesses went dark. By 2008, Earth Hour had become a global phenomenon, and in 2010, over 120 countries participated in the event.

 

Earth Hour is seen as more symbolic than anything else, as the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in a single hour across the globe is of minimal impact. But the event’s goal is to raise awareness of sustainability and dangers of climate change.