Five months ago, as a young graduate student looking for an internship where I could sharpen my skills and at the same time, contribute toward a cause and make an impact on the community, I chanced upon the opportunity to be a part of WWF’s Earth Hour Global team. Equipped with a basic understanding of climate change and its accelerating impacts on our planet, as well as my experience at the Earth Hour event in Singapore in 2014, I took the leap and what a meaningful and rewarding ride it has been! Here are five things I learnt during my journey at Earth Hour which I’d like to share - I hope you enjoy it!
1) Earth Hour is more than just an hour.
One of the most common questions I would get when I told someone I was interning at Earth Hour was ‘But isn’t that just an hour, what do you do the rest of the time?’ One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about Earth Hour is that it is only about the hour, that moment when the clock strikes - 8.30 p.m. one Saturday evening in March every year and the 60 minutes that follow. However, my time at the organisation has shown me that Earth Hour is so much more than that! Spanning 178 countries and territories and powering over two million individual actions to change climate change, Earth Hour is a global movement that aims to harness the power of the crowd to achieve concrete environmental impact. This is represented in the Earth Hour 60+ logo, where the “+” signifies climate action that extends beyond the symbolic lights out event. So what are the impacts that the movement has achieved so far?
2) Earth Hour is as much about impact as it is about lights out (if not more!)
While the world's most iconic landmarks going dark has a stunning visual appeal, the true impact of the movement is seen on the ground where individuals and communities are taking concrete action to change climate change. From working with governments to provide subsidised solar power for residential use in Nepal, to planting the world’s first Earth Hour forest in Uganda to fight deforestation and providing access to renewable energy to communities in India and the Philippines, I have learnt that the Earth Hour movement is making a real, lasting difference across the planet.
3) Earth Hour is part of a greater movement to #ChangeClimateChange.
Earth Hour, the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment, is not alone in the fight against climate change. From fellow non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are also turning up the volume on climate change, to businesses like IKEA vowing to be a net exporter of renewable energy and governments coming together to make the Paris Agreement a reality, everyone has a role to play. The most amazing thing? Earth Hour holds the potential to bring everyone together, lighting the flame in people’s hearts to take the climate action our planet urgently needs.
4) Earth Hour is a great starting point for climate action.
By bridging the gap between policy and grassroots to make climate action understandable, relatable and accessible to all, Earth Hour is one of the easiest and best avenues for individuals to take their first step to help change climate change- my own journey stands testament to this. From understanding and learning about climate change issues and stories on the Earth Hour blog, to organising activities such as tree planting and starting a petition to effect change, individuals have the power to be a part of climate action and make a real difference for the environment.
5) Earth Hour is a movement powered by individuals like you and I.
This is the most inspiring takeaway from my experience here at Earth Hour Global. It is the passion and the power of the people that have made the impacts achieved by Earth Hour possible. When individuals come together, even the smallest action counts. This makes me hopeful of what we can achieve when we join forces to tackle our planet’s biggest environmental challenge yet.
The world is at a climate crossroads. To win the battle against climate change, our only "home" needs urgent climate action from each and every individual and that includes both you and I! Join us in the movement to change climate change today and together, let’s create a climate-friendly future for generations to come.
earth hour journey