From the Empire State Building to the Space Needle to the Las Vegas strip, some of the world’s most iconic landmarks will go dark on Saturday, March 25 at 8:30 p.m. local time. The reason? Earth Hour 2017, the world’s largest lights-out movement in support of action on climate change. The concept is simple: for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time, everyone around the world is encouraged to turn their lights off in order to help raise awareness of climate change. “Every individual, young or old, has the power to make decisions and make a difference,” Debbie Levin, president of the Environmental Media Association, tells Teen Vogue.
And this year, you should know about the World Wildlife Fund’s “Turn Up the Dark,” where musicians will be performing unplugged concerts and streaming them live to help raise awareness for not just Earth Hour, but environmental issues that impact us all year-round. (And you can participate too by sharing your original performance with the hashtag #EarthHourLive on social media). Ellie Goulding is one of the artists participating: “I grew up in the countryside, and I love the natural world. Forests and mountains were my playground when I was young,” Goulding tells Teen Vogue. “Knowing that that could be taken away from my kids and future generations makes me sad, but knowing that we can do something to prevent climate change gives me this passion to want to do something about it.”
As the next generation of people who can make an impact in the fight against climate change, it’s vital that we all take action; turning off the lights raises awareness, but it’s even more important to take demonstrable action to protect the planet. If you’re planning on switching off the lights for Earth Hour this year, consider using that time to do one of these other things, too:
1. Use the time to educate yourself.
Recognize that not everyone has as easy access to electricity as you. Scot Tatelman, who has a nonprofit called Camp Power that connects kids with nature, suggests using this time to speak to people who may not be as easily able to access these resources firsthand, and find out what it’s actually like to live without the technology we take for granted.
And try checking out programs like iEARN or Stevens Initiative, that connect socially conscious young people around the world with others who care about the same issues. This is a great time to get the wheels in motion to create an ongoing relationship and plan ways to work together to spur real change when it comes to social issues, like those that affect the environment.
2. Host a sustainable dinner party for family and friends by eliminating food waste
Food waste accounts for 70 billion tons of the garbage we send to landfills each year, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. To raise awareness of this issue, try hosting a potluck dinner by candlelight and asking people to prepare dishes using only food they find in their fridges and cabinets. “You’ll be making the most of what’s in your kitchen and helping to protect the planet at the same time,” Pete Pearson, director of food waste at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), tells Teen Vogue. Bonus points for keeping the tableside discussion centered around environmental issues.
3. Get your school involved.
Take Earth Hour to your school and organize a student-run, solution-based meeting that can be livestreamed from the school's page or website (see if you can find solar-powered lights and candles that will keep the room lit sufficiently!).
“You may want to take this time to review the policies of their local waterways or recycling programs, or put on a play or themed talent show for the community to raise awareness about climate change,” environmental lawyer and energy policy expert Sonali P. Chitre, Esq tells Teen Vogue.“There are so many issues to discuss,, such as, are there bike lanes in the neighborhood? If not, why not? Is there recycling or composting going on at school? Is the food being served in the school cafeteria healthy and sustainable?”
You can also try coordinating a bake sale a few days before the weekend featuring glow in the dark treats to help raise awareness of climate change (brownie points if you donate proceeds to an organization working to help solve issues currently plaguing the environment), the WWF suggests, or asking your school officials and make sure that your campus is going dark for the hour.
4. Organize your friends to join the People’s Climate March on April 29.
Get your markers, stickers, and friends together to throw a sign-making party, and make a plan to participate in the march.
Bryn Baker, manager of renewable energy at the WWF, says this type of action is a great way to “vote with your feet”: “The People’s Climate March will drive solutions and visibility and acts as a rallying cry to our nation’s leaders that the time to act on climate change is now,” she tells Teen Vogue.
Beyond Earth Hour, of course there are many ways you can actually take action to protect the Earth. Jesse Anderson, co-founder of the youth-run, socially driven site NYAToday, worked with her team to put together this list of simple ways you can personally do your part to help save the planet, like composting or bringing your own bag to the grocery store and requesting that takeout restaurants not include plastic forks.
“As activists, it’s important that we come together and show up for our planet,” Anderson tells Teen Vogue.