Earth Hour: Harsh Vardhan asks people to switch off lights for an hour tomorrow

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan today made an impassioned appeal to the people to switch off all non-essential lights for an hour tomorrow to mark the Earth Hour, saying he himself will do so.

"Tomorrow, on March 24, as we celebrate Earth Hour, I will switch off all non-essential lights in my office and residence from 8:30 to 9:30 pm in support for action against nature loss. I urge you to do the same," an official statement quoted the minister as saying.

He made a strong pitch for "Give Up to Give Back" and "Connect2Earth".

"The campaign should be seen as an opportunity to adopt a shifting of the consumption culture and behaviour change towards sustainability, helping economise operations and reduce the costs, he said.

"Give Up" is a choice that needs to make smarter decisions for the nature and deliver a long-term impact, the minister said.

He emphasised that observing Earth Hour is also a "part and parcel" of the "Green Good Deeds" movement, in which every individual ought to take small, voluntary green actions to protect and conserve the environment and the earth.

Vardhan exhorted the people to undertake one "Green Good Deed" every day such as planting a sapling, segregating waste, cycling to work or use car pool, stop using plastic.

Earth Hour is the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment where citizens around the world unite to take a stand against climate change by turning off non-essential lights for one hour.

Earth Hour is a global initiative of the World Wide Fund for Nature India (WWF), with a record participation of 178 countries and territories around the world.

This year, Earth Hour will be observed on Saturday, March 24, from 8:30-9:30 pm.

On the occasion of Earth Hour, 2018, WWF-India is launching the "Give Up to Give Back" initiative to inspire organisations, institutions and individuals to make the choice to curb some habits, practices and lifestyles that burden our lives and the environment.

The campaign includes taking steps like giving up single-use plastics, giving up fossil fuels, giving up lonely car rides for your employees, give up e-waste among others.