The world is currently facing a health crisis with the outbreak of COVID-19. Given the unprecedented circumstances, the Earth Hour global organising team is celebrating Earth Hour digitally this year.

In support of nature and the planet, join millions of people around the world and celebrate Earth Hour, which falls on 28 March this year. Marked every last Saturday of March, the worldwide movement is organised annually by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

You might ask, ‘Is it appropriate to celebrate Earth Hour when the world is facing a global health crisis? Why doesn’t WWF simply cancel Earth Hour?’

The Earth Hour global organising team says:

In the midst of the COVID 19 health crisis, we need to stand together now more than ever to safeguard our future and the future of our planet. Earth Hour 2020 is more than a symbolic event, it is a global environmental movement to stop the destruction of nature on which our health, happiness and future prosperity depends. Nature is the planet’s life support system and gives us everything we need; from the air we breathe, the water we drink, to the food we eat. The link between nature and good health has been well documented. Even spending two hours a week in nature is known to lead to better health. Nature underpins our life, health and well-being but it is in a crisis! Now is not the time to pause our collective work, but a time to respond more creatively, work more collaboratively, and listen and adapt more effectively. 

Watch the Earth Hour 2020 Official Video:

As many people around the world are at home in quarantine, there are many ways to encourage participation online or at home so people can show support for the planet on and around the hour. Here are some ideas:

Switch off for an hour at home

Help place the spotlight on nature! The world is watching!

Started by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the environment, engaging millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories. It has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people.

Switch off your lights at home, office or from wherever you are for Earth Hour on Saturday, 28 March 2020 at 8:30 pm your local time.

Join Earth Hour virtually and tune in online to one of the organisation’s live Earth Hour streams

From influencer Q&A sessions, to live performances and contests, stay tuned for a directory of live streams around the world you can tune in to on the night of Earth Hour!

Make an impact in only 60 seconds and sign the Voice for the Planet petition!

Only have a minute? Add your Voice to call on world leaders to take urgent action to protect and restore nature! Our Voice for the Planet petition will be presented at major global conferences later in the year.

Class is in session! Hear from Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg

Learn from Sir David Attenborough as he explains humanity’s biggest challenge yet, and how we can overcome it.

For more videos, visit ourplanet.com.

Next, Greta Thunberg introduces one of our biggest allies against climate change.

Learn how to live more sustainably

Up your sustainability knowledge and know-how. Even the smallest individual actions add up – simple changes in the way you live can have a significant positive impact on our planet.

Learn what you can do in your daily life to start living more sustainably – even the smallest actions add up! Read how here.

Take a virtual tours of zoos and museums

Learn more about nature and the creatures that live on it with virtual tours of zoos and museums from around the world:

  • Atlanta Zoo: The zoo keeps a ‘Panda Cam‘ livestream on its website.
  • Cincinnati Zoo: Check in around 3 pm (10 pm Doha time) because that’s the time the Zoo holds a daily Home Safari on its Facebook Live Feed.
  • Edinburgh Zoo: In the UK, Edinburgh Zoo has set up a variety of cameras so people can embark on a virtual tour of the facility.
  • Georgia Aquarium: Sea-dwellers like African penguins and Beluga Whales are the stars of this aquarium’s live cam.
  • Hirakawa Zoological Park: Japan’s Hirakawa Zoological Park in Kagoshima has a daily live stream for two rare animals – a white tiger and a whale shark. The white tiger can usually be seen between 9 am and 4 pm (3 am – 10 am Doha time), whereas the huge aquarium tank containing the whale shark is streamed from 9 am to 9 pm (3 am – 9 am).
  • Loggerhead Marinelife Center: The Florida marine centre is continuing to take care of their sea turtle patients behind the scenes. Monday through Friday, they will be streaming live from the sea turtle hospital and teaching viewers about ocean conservation.
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium: It can be Shark Week every week thanks to live online footage of Monterey Bay’s Habitat exhibit.
  • National Aquarium: Walk through tropical waters to the icy tundra in this floor-by-floor tour of the famous, Baltimore-based aquarium.
  • Oregon Zoo: This zoo shares daily video updates on their Facebook page of different animals.
  • San Diego Zoo: With their live cam options, this zoo lets you switch between koalas, polar bears, and tigers in one sitting.
  • The Shedd Aquarium: This Chicago aquarium shares some pretty adorable behind-the-scenes footage of their residents on Facebook.
  • Volunteer Park Conservatory: This Seattle greenhouse is taking to Instagram to livestream their lush gardens in the midst of their closure to the public. Though the streaming schedule depends on their gardeners, they plan to livestream seven days a week around 2 pm (12 am Doha time).

Take on Earth Hour’s online challenges and contests

Countdown the Hour on TikTok by taking their #DanceForThePlanet challenge and #FlipTheSwitch challenge! Also check out their official Earth Hour filters!

Dancing not your thing? Earth Hour has partnered with One-Minute Brief (OMB) to run a user-generated content competition on the day of #EarthHour – all you have to do is share your photos and plans of how you’re celebrating Earth Hour!

Submit a story!

Inspire and empower others by sharing what nature means to you and what you’ve done in your daily life to help protect the planet. Tell the world what you are doing to protect nature and save the planet. Submit your story here! Need inspiration? Browse through the stories of individuals from all over the world on the Earth Hour website.

Be sure to share your Earth Hour experience using the hashtag #EarthHour! Also tag @EarthHourOfficial on Instagram, @EarthHour on Facebook and @EarthHour on Twitter!

For more information, visit earthhour.org.


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