“Earth Hour”: Why the lights go out at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday

One hour of light off for our planet: New Zealand, Australia and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region heralded the “Earth Hour” for 2023 on Saturday evening at 8.30 p.m. (local time). The WWF launched the global climate and environmental protection campaign in Australia in 2007 as a sign that humanity must take better care of the earth.

It’s also getting dark in Linz

The city of Linz is also taking part again and darkens the Lentos, Ars Electronica Center, Old and New Town Halls – security-related areas must remain switched on – as well as the Nibelungen Bridge. In addition, the effect lighting of the Pöstlingberg Basilica is switched off.

Not only do numerous citizens around the world switch off their lights for an hour, but also well-known buildings are no longer illuminated for 60 minutes. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has been committed to climate protection for years, also called for participation. The event is a reminder that “everyone can do their part,” Guterres wrote on Twitter.

The city of Vienna also called for participation. Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) appeared in a video on Twitter disguised as a house technician undercover in an “energy-saving mission” in the ministry.

Under the motto “renaturing instead of concreting”, WWF Austria also announced a public painting campaign in Vienna-Neubau at the Human Rights Square on Mariahilfer Strasse. “Lights out!” is the motto from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. “The destruction of nature is reaching dramatic proportions worldwide – our earth urgently needs a break,” said Joschka Brangs, spokesman for biodiversity at WWF Austria. In this context, the NGO pointed out that out of eight million species worldwide, up to one million are threatened with extinction. In Austria, the high level of soil consumption weighs particularly heavily on the last remaining natural areas.

It’s also getting dark in Schönbrunn

“Landmarks such as Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin or Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro symbolically turn off the lights again. Apart from that, this year we are calling on everyone around the world to get involved and raise awareness for the long-term protection of nature create”, Brangs wished that it would not only remain with the symbolic turning off of the lights. Millions of people in over 190 countries around the world will take part in this again this year.

In addition, people should become active themselves on “Earth Hour” day: “Give the earth an hour and do something – anything – positive for our planet for 60 minutes,” wrote WWF International. Examples included reconnecting with nature outdoors, picking up rubbish on a beach, planting a tree, shopping plastic-free, or watching a documentary about climate change and biodiversity loss.