Earth Hour: Indian cities go dark to combat climate change
What's the story
India celebrated Earth Hour on Saturday, March 23, as major cities including Delhi and Mumbai joined the world in the initiative.
The campaign, which took place from 8:30pm to 9:30pm had iconic structures like the India Gate and Qutub Minar switch off lights in a show of solidarity against climate change.
This year, Earth Hour activities closely followed World Water Day, celebrated on March 22.
History
Earth Hour: A global movement for climate action
Earth Hour is a global movement organized by the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature.
Started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 as a lights-out event, it now reaches millions of supporters in over 190 countries and territories.
The initiative seeks to inspire individuals and organizations across the globe to take action for the environment, driving significant legislative changes through collective efforts.
Participation
Global landmarks and local efforts join Earth Hour
Landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Sydney Opera House, Empire State Building, and Rashtrapati Bhawan have joined Earth Hour.
In Delhi alone, BSES had called upon over 50 lakh consumers to turn off non-essential lights and appliances during this time.
Last year, Delhi-wallas saved 206MW during Earth Hour, with BSES areas contributing a substantial 130MW.
Theme
'Be Water Wise' theme for Earth Hour 2025
This year's Earth Hour falls on World Water Day, so WWF-India has taken up the theme 'Be Water Wise.'
The theme highlights the interdependence of energy and water: climbing temperatures due to climate change are aggravating the scarcity of water.
BSES emphasized that Earth Hour is not merely about saving power, but about making conscious choices on a daily basis that help in achieving a sustainable future.