WWF
Earth Hour
Launching a global movement
We knew from research that most people thought global warming was too big to tackle and fear of its consequences left people feeling overwhelmed and apathetic. They didn't feel that an individual could make a difference. So our goal was to focus on an action that was inclusive, optimistic and simple.

The thought was blindingly simple: Switch off your lights for one hour at 7:30pm on March 31. Our ambition was for this event to become a permanent event. Every March, Earth Hour would become a time for the world to think about the difference we can all make in the fight against global warming.

Earth Hour was so successful it took on a life of its own. Launched in Sydney, it went global within two years, becoming one of the biggest environmental events in history, with over 1 billion taking part globally.