What is Earth Hour, how is it marked, and how can you take part?

For just one-hour homes and landmarks across the world will switch off their lights, and try to save the planet.

Earth Hour is an annual event which asks individuals to turn off all non-essential lights, at 8.30pm March 30.

The aim is to encourage people to become educated about and speak up on issues such as sustainable lifestyles, plastic-free oceans, deforestation and water conservation

This year the event has particular relevance as it is the first event since a UN report announced that there are only twelve years left in which to prevent devastating climate change.

The event also comes at a time where more people are backing environmental causes and campaigning for government to do more towards sustainability.

Heini Evans, from WWF Cymru said, “There’s certainly an appetite for it [Earth Hour]. It’s just really important we have a voice.”

Supplementary events have taken place across south Wales, with events in Merthyr and Parc Penallta seeing over 550 volunteers working on projects like Heads4Arts’ floating gardens campaign.

Kate Strudwick, creative project manager with the community building arts and crafts organisation, said the environment was the most important project going on anywhere.

“If we can use the arts to to get that across in more engaging ways, then we should do it,” said Strudwick.

The floating gardens campaign hopes to attract pollinators and encourage participants to seek positive solutions, by being ‘imaginative about wildflower gardens.’ Through participatory arts activities, Heads4Arts are hopeful they can raise public awareness and prompt positive action.

The World Wide Fund (WWF) for nature claims 90% of participants say they feel encouraged to work further to protect the environment.

Though the event is a once-a-year occasion, the hope is that tonight’s activities will encourage more regular practice of environmentally beneficial behaviours.

“Most of our work is family focused,” said Strudwick. “But we’re trying to get people to enjoy it at every level and getting children to become ambassadors.”

In the wake of recent youth climate strikes, campaigners are optimistic about the future of environmentalism.

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