A WWF initiative, Earth Hour is a simple idea that’s quickly turned into a global phenomenon.
Hundreds of millions of people switching off their lights for one hour, on the same night, all around the world to signal their care for the amazing planet we call home.
Here in Australia in 2011, icons in every corner of the country switched off for the hour, from the Australian War Memorial to Parliament House to Perth Concert Hall to the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
Almost 2,000 businesses, 334 schools and colleges, 154 councils, all 130 government departments (and even our 4 Arctic stations!) also joined the celebration of the planet.
So where did it all begin?
2007
In 2007, WWF-Australia inspired Sydney-siders to show their support for action on climate change in the first ever Earth Hour event. It showed that everyone, from children to CEOs and politicians, has the power to change the world they live in.More than 2 million individuals and 2,000 businesses in Sydney took part in this first year. Many Sydney icons also switched off for the hour including the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House sails and the Luna Park face. The Coca-Cola sign at Kings Cross was switched off intentionally for the first time since the 1970s.
2008
In 2008, the plan was to take Earth Hour to the rest of Australia. But then the City of Toronto, Canada, signed up and it wasn’t long before 35 countries and almost 400 cities and towns were part of the event.Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
It said something compelling to the world: that the climate challenges facing our planet are so significant that change needs to be global.
The challenges that face our planet are immense, but never underestimate the possibility for change when we face these challenges with true common purpose. Hundreds of millions of people around the globe have given us a glimpse of what is possible. It is now time to go beyond the hour and show what can be done.
2009
With the invitation to ‘switch off’ extended to everyone, Earth Hour became a global sustainability movement with over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially participating in 2009.2010
In 2010, Earth Hour continued to grow as a global call to action to stand up, to take responsibility, and lead the global journey to a sustainable future. A record 128 countries and territories took part in this fourth year.
2011
From low-lying Pacific islands to the heights of the Himalayas, from the world’s mega cities to rural housing estates in Africa, across every continent Earth Hour again brought together the people of the world in a celebration of the planet.Iconic landmarks around the world, from the Eiffel Tower, to the London Eye and Big Ben, to Athens’ Acropolis to the India Gate, stood in darkness for the hour.
Around the world, 5, 251 cities in 135 countries officially took part.
