22.03.2024
Earth Hour
For the Prelims: About Earth Hour, Important points, About World Wide Fund (WWF)
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Why in the news?
Electricity distribution companies are gearing up to make 'Earth Hour' a success by encouraging their consumers to switch off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for an hour on the night of March 23.
Important points:
- BSES discom has urged its 50 lakh consumers to join the program promoted by the World Wide Fund (WWF) to draw attention to the fragile state of the planet.
- Discoms had saved 279 MW last year due to Earth Hour.
- This year, Earth Hour is planned to be held on March 23 from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
About Earth Hour:
- It is a global grassroots movement that unites people to take action on environmental issues and protect the planet.
- Earth Hour is organized by the World Wide Fund (WWF).
- It began in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney, Australia.
- It has since become a global movement involving millions of people in more than 190 countries and territories.
- It takes place every year at the end of March.
- Earth Hour encourages people to turn off all lights for one hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time to promote awareness of climate change challenges and energy conservation.
- Governments and companies also participate by turning off non-essential lights in their buildings, monuments and sites to raise awareness of the impact of energy consumption on our planet.
About World Wide Fund (WWF):
- The World Wide Fund (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization established in 1961.
- It works in the field of forest conservation and reducing human impact on the environment.
- It was previously named World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States.
- WWF is the world's largest conservation organization.
Source: Hindustan times