Give an hour for Earth

We all know that protecting our planet is a vital goal; but a feel-good outdoor thrill can remind us of what we love about our one shared home. (And keep our minds and bodies fit!) Taking the hour to reconnect with nature and remind yourself of exactly why we need to protect the Earth. 

Transportation is one of the largest sources of air pollution on our planet. Luckily, a study found that walking rather than driving your car 1.5 kilometres or less releases 75 per cent less greenhouse gases! Plus, healthy outdoor activities like walking or bike riding can boost your mood and help you live longer - now that’s 60 minutes well spent! 

Take an hour to be in nature and reconnect with nature meaningfully. Start with finding a peaceful natural space, find a comfortable position, and close your eyes to meditate. Listen to the rustle of wind, the feel of grass or sand beneath your fingers,... As time passes, you’ll feel more rooted to the Earth and mindful of your environment.

Exercising in nature boosts energy and lifts your mood more than indoor workouts—and reduces your reliance on energy-hungry equipment. So whether it’s on your run, your yoga session, or your pushups in the park, break a sweat outdoors for 60 minutes and let the energy of nature power your workout as you reconnect with the Earth.

Did you know that spending an hour outdoors can help fight depression, lower blood pressure, and improve short-term memory? Those are just some of the benefits of “forest bathing”–a Japanese term for a mindful walk in the woods.  
 
It’s easy! Just walk in any natural environment, clear your mind and allow yourself to reconnect with what’s around you.

Gain a new perspective by looking up. Of the countless celestial bodies twinkling above, the one beneath your feet is our unique, special shared home. Just think: Humankind has already worked together to explore the evening skies above. Imagine what we will achieve if we keep focusing our collective powers toward preserving the Earth?

Depending on where you live, your own backyard, city street, or the jungle or grassland near your home could be a complex ecosystem of diverse plant and animal species you might not have even noticed! Well, it’s time to make it a challenge and see how many species you can spot in one hour! Need some help spotting your “neighbours”?

Take an hour to explore books that reveal the wonders and challenges of our interconnected world. Try Alexandre Antonelli’s The Hidden Universe for a lively look at biodiversity, Sunil Amrith’s Unruly Waters on Asia’s shaping waters, or Vanessa Nakate’s A Bigger Picture on amplifying African voices in the climate movement.

Earth Hour is just one of our many initiatives at WWF, and our teams of experts work year-round in almost 100 countries to protect and restore the natural world that sustains and inspires us. Make a donation to WWF and help power our conservation work for years to come.

Think planting a single tree won’t do much to protect nature? Think again. Within a few years, a little sapling will grow to cast shade and bring coolness, stock water with its roots, and provide a home for wildlife.  
Start by Googling to find out which trees are native and beneficial to your area then click the button below. 

Did you know that the way we produce and consume food is the biggest cause of nature loss today? Yet, over a third of all food still goes uneaten and thrown away. So here’s a challenge: Have a look in your fridge and pantry and cook up a meal in under 60 minutes using leftovers. 
A little sustainable creativity is the best spice in your kitchen cupboard.

Grab a trowel and help grow your own dinner! Your project can be as big or small as you have time and space to commit. No matter the scale, you’ll be surprised how proud and excited you’ll feel watching your own little veggies sprout and grow – as well as the calories you’ll burn and money you’ll save in the process! 

Changing your cooking habits is a tasty way to restore our Earth. Our global food system is responsible for around one third of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Make a difference by buying from food companies with planet-friendly practices and choosing foods with a low impact on the environment. Then, challenge your culinary skills and see what you can cook up in an hour.

Helping the Earth has never tasted so delicious! A more plant-based diet slims your carbon footprint with each bite–reducing the use of water and cropland and opting out of the polluting farm animal system that often fuels our everyday diets–all without sacrificing your taste buds! Gather your friends and family around the table for the hour to explore the flavorful world of plant-based eats.

One bite-sized way to help restore our planet is to take an hour out of your day to look through your pantry and fridge for food products that have a high ecological impact–and swap them for more planet-friendly alternatives. For example, consider more sustainably-sourced animal products, look for fair trade coffee brands and choose chocolates wrapped in less packaging. 

Studies show that carpooling reduces individual carbon emissions significantly, cutting transport emissions in half when commuting. It also helps reduce traffic congestion and tends to lower commute-related stress. You can spend less money, hang out with other humans, and make an impact for the environment with one click of a seatbelt: carpool to work with colleagues or share your ride with friends for a fun night out! 

Use the hour to team up with a local environmental group for a project close to home. It’s fun, fosters connection, and gives you an instant feeling of accomplishment! Volunteer to restore a wildlife habitat, clean up a beach, or plant bee-friendly shrubs with other like-minded locals. Get started by Googling “environmental organisations or nonprofits” + the name of your town or state to find project options.  

You may not be Marvel’s Avengers, but you can certainly be a superhero by assembling your crew and restoring our planet. Most trash takes a long time to decompose or break down which impacts the places we love. So, encourage your crew to bring trash bags on your next hang and clean up while you chill out!  

Why not use your social media voice to like, mention, and inspire positive change? One simple yet meaningful way to start: take 60 minutes to research your favourite brands’ and companies’ sustainability efforts. Then, unfollow brands you find unsustainable and share stories about planet-friendly alternatives. It really makes a difference! Learn more about major brands’ eco-practices and get started.

Challenge yourself - and your kids - to a fun, 60-minute planet-friendly scavenger hunt! Plenty of household items are sneaky sources of pollutants and ecological harm–coffee capsules to single-use razors. We bet your family can find five problem products in an hour that can be replaced with more sustainable alternatives.  Find out which household items are unsustainable and why–and start your hunt!

Whether you’ve got a DSLR or a smartphone, try your hand at nature photography for an hour! You’re bound to take your camera skills to the next level–while also opening your eyes to the beauty of the one shared home we must protect.  It’s a fun, easy way to reconnect with your neighbourhood and gain a new perspective on the often-overlooked–yet incredibly valuable–natural world around you

How often do you slow down and absorb the wonder of the world around us? One fun and easy way to reconnect with our planet for sixty minutes while unleashing your artistic side is to try sketching or painting a scene of nature. You don’t have to be an art expert to revitalise your appreciation for nature’s gifts–and the need to protect them. 

Use your hour to embrace creative “upcycling”–reusing your well-loved clothing and home goods while reducing the need to use raw materials to create new items: Turn an old t-shirt into a tie-dye statement piece; revive your worn-out jeans with colourful patches; transform a chipped saucer into an herb planter; or turn other old vintage items into fashion forward outfits.

Did you know that our brains are actually wired to recognize and respond to poetry? That’s the kind of creative thinking we need in order to collectively help our planet! Use the hour to write a poem about the Earth –or the plants and animals that call it home–to help you reconnect with nature on a deeper level.

Plan your hour: Explore local Earth Hour or WWF events happening near you and join in the celebration! Invite your friends and family to come along as you enjoy activities that bring you closer to your community and the natural world around you. At 8:30 PM, switch off together and experience the collective impact of standing united for our shared planet.

By educating ourselves on the planet’s history, we also gain a better appreciation of why we need to safeguard its future. Meanwhile, exhibitions focused on our environment can help the whole family understand complex global issues in a fresh, exciting way, igniting curiosity and strengthening your resolve to help protect the Earth.

Forget Hollywood action movies, the most dramatic tales ever filmed are real life stories starring the natural world. Sit back for the next hour: watch Emmy-award winning series Our Planet narrated by David Attenborough or check out other nature documentaries like Virunga or Oscar-winner My Octopus Teacher.

You’re never too young to start taking action for the planet! Check out these curated themed packs of fun, accessible and educational activities and printables, designed to meaningfully engage children – and yourself -  to give an hour for Earth.