Earth Hour: Environmental Hero or Villain?

Last Saturday (March 23^rd) was Earth Hour. It’s an event where people all over the world turn off their lights for an hour, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and raise awareness about climate change. As an environment student, I can’t help but question the real impact that this event has. I’ve always been skeptical environmental movements like earth hour though… as are many other people. If you google “the impact for earth hour”, one of the first articles that comes up is about how earth hour will not cut carbon emissions (here its is: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7527469/Earth-Hour-will-not-cut-carbon-emissions.html). The article claims that turning off lights for an hour will not likely lead to less energy in the grid. Not to mention, once the lights go back on, power stations will need to fire up quickly, which might actually result in an increase in emissions. These are valid points, I don’t deny that. But Earth Hour is not just about the hour itself, it’s about raising consciousness about climate change. The Earth Hour website makes it clear that we must take action beyond the hour itself, and it does that by sharing  stories from around the world of people who are making a difference. (http://www.earthhour.org/page/about/about-earth-hour)

After stirring for a while on how I feel about Earth Hour, I’ve decided that it is in fact a very positive environmental “movement”. Although the impact of the hour itself might not be huge, it’s the awareness and call to action that the hour creates which really matter. Also, it empowers people and inspires them to take even more steps towards reducing their emissions. Participants realize that doing something about climate change is as easy as turning out the lights! Simple changes in lifestyle do make a difference, and Earth Hour really demonstrates exactly that.

Earth Hour is also great because it’s done it cities all over the world. Earth Hour reminds us that climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. On a personal level, Earth Hour also reminds me that the poorest of the world influence climate change too… and that cities must be center in the fight against climate change. Cities are, of course, the source of almost all carbon emissions on earth, which makes them the source of the problem but also key to the solution.

So, do you support Earth Hour? How do you think cities, which are the target participants of Earth Hour, are going in influence climate change?