Earth Hour 2018: Globe unites to celebrate people’s connection to our planet 188 countries joined with 17,900 landmarks lighted out

Individuals, businesses, and organizations in a record 188 countries and territories worldwide joined WWF’s Earth Hour to spark unprecedented conversation and action on stopping the loss of nature. BMA reported 7.8 MB saved for switched off 1 hours.

Close to 18,000 landmarks switched off their lights in solidarity as people across the globe generated over 3.5 billion impressions of #EarthHour, #connect2earth and related hashtags to show their concern for the planet. The hashtags trended in 33 countries. “Once again, the people have spoken through Earth Hour,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International. “The record participation in this year’s Earth Hour, from skylines to timelines, is a powerful reminder that people want to connect to Earth. People are demanding commitment now on halting climate change and the loss of nature. The stakes are high and we need urgent action to protect the health of the planet for a safe future for us and all life on Earth."

This Earth Hour, for the first time, people across the globe also joined the conversation on connect2earth to share what nature means to them, in the places they live in and care about. The platform, created in partnership with the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity and supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety with funding from the International Climate Initiative, aims to build mass awareness on the values of biodiversity and nature to our lives, health and well-being.

Earth Hour 2018: Facts and figures (based on initial estimates on 25 March 2018, 2:30 p.m. SGT):

188 countries and territories focused on environmental action and issues such as protecting biodiversity, sustainable lifestyles, deforestation, plastics and stronger climate policy; lights out at around 17,900 landmarks including the Sydney Opera House (Sydney), Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (London), the Tokyo Sky Tree (Tokyo), the Empire State Building (New York), the Pyramids of Egypt (Cairo), Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi), Christ the Redeemer statue (Rio de Janeiro) and the Eiffel Tower (Paris);

In Bangkok Thailand, led by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported the success with 2,002 megawatt reduction during the lighted-off 1 hour, calculated to 7.8 MB valued or 1,026 tons Carbon Dioxide reduction. Thailand nationwide activities also conducted at Pha Tong Municipality, Hat Yai Municipality, Yasotorn Municipality, etc.

Since 2007, Earth Hour has mobilized businesses, organizations, governments and hundreds of millions of individuals to act for a sustainable future. Earth Hour 2019 will take place on Saturday 30 March 2019 at 8:30 p.m. local time.