Why Earth Hour?
One hour. That’s how long it takes to watch an episode of Stranger Things or Squid Games. It’s the length of a flight from Johannesburg to Durban or a drive from Cape Town to Stellenbosch. An hour is really not a long time, especially when you’re using it for a worthy cause. On 22 March 2025, the world will celebrate Earth Hour – 60 minutes to do something good for the planet.
From Lights Off to Giving an Hour for Earth
Some of you may remember celebrating Earth Hour in the early 2000s. The original idea was to switch off your lights for one hour (between 8:30 and 9:30 pm) to raise awareness. Entire streets and suburbs would go dark during this time to reduce power usage and show their support for the environment. The first Earth Hour happened in Australia in 2007. Over 2 million people turned off their lights to show the government how many citizens cared about climate change.
Over the years, Earth Hour grew from strength to strength and is now the biggest grassroots environmental movement in the world. In 2023, Earth Hour rebranded itself into something new – switching off lights was no longer enough. Today, the idea is to “give an hour for Earth.”
What Difference Does Earth Hour Make?
In the beginning, many were sceptical of Earth Hour – how much difference can switching off your lights for an hour really make? While it does reduce energy usage, the idea is not just to save electricity. The act of switching off lights is symbolic and shows the power of collective action.
Earth Hour makes a much greater difference when you not only switch off lights but participate in an eco-friendly activity. The world dedicated a collective 1.4 million hours to Earth Hour 2024. Even something as simple as watching a nature documentary for an hour can plant the seeds of conservation and appreciation for Earth.
How to Participate in Earth Hour 2025
Earth Hour is supposed to be fun! You can participate in any way you like, but make sure it’s doing something you love. The WWF proposes dozens of ways to take part with ideas for foodies, fitness lovers, and everyone in between. We’ve listed some of our favourites below.
- Do an outdoor workout – exercising outside gives you the added benefit of improving your mental health. Nature is calming and has been proven to help with stress relief. This Earth Hour, spend 60 minutes walking, running, weightlifting, or doing yoga outside.
- Upcycle old clothes – the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. Breathe new life into an old piece of clothing this Earth Hour by practising your sewing skills. Beginners can try turning old jeans into shorts or T-shirts into headwraps.
- Attend an open-air movie night – WWF South Africa is hosting two official Earth Hour events on 22 March – one at Kirstenbosch Gardens (CT) and one at Walter Sisulu Gardens (JHB). Book your tickets and pack your picnic for a fun family evening under the stars.
- Unplug for 60 minutes – switch off your lights and turn off your phones for a relaxing Earth Hour that gives you time to reflect on nature. Bonus points for taking a walk outdoors or spending time tending your garden – anything that benefits Mother Earth!
To add your contribution to the official “Hour Bank” you must register on the WWF website. Fill in your name and how many hours you’re giving to be an official participant in Earth Hour South Africa.
Celebrate Earth Hour and Win!
WWF South Africa is sweetening the deal even more this year with a giveaway for one lucky winner. Anyone who pledges an hour for Earth Hour (doing any activity of your choice) will automatically be entered into a lucky draw. The prize is a two-night glamping trip for five people at one of AfriCamps’ 19 luxury bush camps across South Africa. This is the perfect getaway for nature lovers!
Earth Hour Ideas for Businesses
Earth Hour is a great opportunity for businesses to show their support for the environment. It can also help you advance your CSR programme or EPR scheme while promoting your business. Here are some Earth Hour ideas for businesses:
- Go offline – get your employees to power down and do something analogue for a carbon-free hour in the office. This applies to remote workers too!
- Tree planting – hand out spades and gloves at the office and give your employees the chance to plant trees around the neighbourhood or on your property.
- Run a cleanup – invite employees and their families to join a beach or street cleanup to take a stance against littering. Remember to include recycling at the end to make it EPR-friendly.
- Educational workshops – host environmental speakers or NGO operators to talk to your team about the environment and how to be more eco-friendly at work
- Run or walk for nature – host a charity fun run, walk, or hike to collect money for an environmental cause. Keep it to 5km to ensure everyone can finish within one hour.
Earth Hour is a fun way to connect with nature and your community while raising awareness for pressing environmental issues. Everyone can get involved, no matter who you are or where you come from. Get in touch with eWASA to find registered NGO partners for your Earth Hour festivities.
