Millions of people are expected to switch off their lights for Earth Hour Saturday in a global effort to raise awareness about climate change that will even be monitored from space.
At 8:30 p.m. today, a record number of people around the globe will switch off lights for Earth Hour, easing human impact on the environment.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced that the UN would be switching off their lights for Earth Hour on March 31, as he called on people, organizations and businesses to do the same, in solidarity with the 20 percent of men, women and children who don’t have access to electricity.
“Turning off our lights is a symbol of our commitment to sustainable energy for all,” he said in a statement. “We need to fuel our future with clean, efficient and affordable energy. By acting together today, we can power a brighter tomorrow.”
A record 147 countries and territories are preparing to send “a united message that now is the time to take action for the planet,” EarthHour.com stated in a release.
According to EarthHour.com, the event started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.
The website says 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever with a previous record of 128 countries and territories joining the global display of climate action, “Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off.
