By rikififi90 
Darkness enveloped iconic landmarks worldwide on the night of March 22, 2025, marking another edition of Earth Hour. This annual event invites individuals, businesses, and governments to switch off their lights for 60 minutes, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness about climate change and the urgent need to protect the environment. This year saw massive participation, with entire cities plunged into shadow to emphasize the call for sustainable action. From the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro to the Empire State Building in New York, the initiative united millions in a visually striking demonstration.
In Lisbon, key tourist attractions like the Belém Tower and São Jorge Castle went dark, showcasing Portugal’s commitment to the cause. Meanwhile, in London, the London Eye, along the Thames, turned off its colorful lights, with Big Ben’s silhouette in the background amplifying the message. The global movement, organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), also reached Italy’s heart, where historic buildings such as Montecitorio and Palazzo Chigi in Rome joined the push for a more balanced planet.
What began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, has grown exponentially over the years. Today, Earth Hour spans more than 180 countries and territories, making it one of the world’s largest environmental campaigns. The 2025 edition brought renewed focus on cutting carbon emissions and preserving biodiversity, topics that have dominated global discussions following recent reports of alarming rises in average planetary temperatures.
Este 22 de março é o dia em que a #ONU comemora a #HoradoPlaneta. Todos os anos, a organização convida o mundo para apagar as luzes às 8h30 da noite. O movimento global #HoraDoPlaneta chama a atenção para a mudança climática e o futuro da humanidade:#EarthHour @antonioguterres pic.twitter.com/XMbuVc5vSk
— ONU News Português (@ONUNews) March 21, 2025
Key landmarks that joined the blackout
The participation of famous landmarks remains a highlight of Earth Hour, serving as a visual reminder of the scale of environmental challenges. Here are some of the sites that turned off their lights in 2025:
- Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro stood in darkness, spotlighting Brazil’s role in combating deforestation.
- Arc de Triomphe in Paris went dark, reinforcing France’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.
- Empire State Building in New York symbolized U.S. involvement in the movement.
- St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican joined the effort, reflecting the Catholic Church’s focus on sustainability.
Historical impact and growth of the movement
Since its inception, Earth Hour has evolved from a local event into a global platform for awareness. In its debut year, over 2.2 million people and 2,000 businesses in Sydney turned off their lights, cutting the city’s energy use by about 10% for one hour. This initial success inspired other nations to join, and by 2025, the reach was even more remarkable, with estimates suggesting billions participated directly or indirectly. Governments and organizations also rallied behind the event, using it to announce bolder environmental goals.
Over the years, the initiative has expanded beyond merely switching off lights. Parallel campaigns now promote lifestyle changes, such as reducing single-use plastics and adopting renewable energy sources. In Hong Kong, for instance, the city’s skyscraper-filled skyline dimmed partially, while local authorities unveiled plans to boost energy efficiency in public buildings. In Brazil, the Christ the Redeemer blackout coincided with discussions about preserving the Amazon, which lost over 11,000 square kilometers in 2024 alone, according to official figures.
The movement also mirrors growing concerns over climate change effects. Recent data indicate the planet has warmed by about 1.2°C since pre-industrial levels, with scientists warning that exceeding 1.5°C could trigger irreversible consequences, such as accelerated glacier melting and rising sea levels. Against this backdrop, Earth Hour acts as a rallying cry, uniting communities for a shared purpose.
Brazilian cities at the forefront
In Brazil, participation in Earth Hour 2025 was robust, with several state capitals actively involved. In Rio de Janeiro, the Christ the Redeemer statue, one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, went dark for 60 minutes, creating a striking image against the night sky. In São Paulo, the Estaiada Bridge and Copan Building followed suit, while in Belo Horizonte, the Praça da Liberdade stood out. Local governments seized the opportunity to launch environmental education campaigns, distributing materials on recycling and resource conservation.
Brazil’s engagement is not new. Since officially joining in 2009, the country has seen growing participation each year. In 2025, over 100 Brazilian municipalities turned off lights in public buildings and landmarks, a 15% increase from the previous year. The event also aligned with local efforts to curb the impact of wildfires, which hit record levels in parts of the Pantanal and Amazon in recent months.
Global landmarks that stood out
Beyond the examples already noted, other landmarks worldwide made an impression during Earth Hour 2025. In Tokyo, the Tokyo Tower switched off its red, white, and green lights, while in Sydney, the Opera House, the event’s original icon, once again went dark. In South Africa, Table Mountain in Cape Town participated, offering a unique view for residents and tourists witnessing the blackout.
These sites not only reinforce the environmental message but also draw significant media attention, amplifying the campaign’s reach. In many cities, the event featured in-person activities, such as candlelit walks and sustainability talks. In London, groups gathered near the London Eye to discuss climate solutions, while in Paris, volunteers handed out flyers on energy efficiency.
Earth Hour timeline worldwide
The event’s journey reflects its rising impact over the decades. Here are key milestones:
- 2007: First edition in Sydney, with 2.2 million participants.
- 2011: Expansion to 135 countries, including Brazil.
- 2020: Shift to virtual formats due to the pandemic, achieving record online engagement.
- 2025: Over 180 countries involved, emphasizing biodiversity and carbon reduction.
Efforts beyond the blackout
Earth Hour extends beyond a single hour without lights. In 2025, several cities used the event to launch long-term projects. In Lisbon, authorities announced plans to plant 10,000 trees over the next two years, while New York committed to cutting energy use in municipal buildings by 20% by 2030. These steps demonstrate how the movement sparks tangible change, linking the symbolic blackout to practical outcomes.
In Brazil, the event doubled as a platform to address the ongoing water crisis, which has strained reservoirs across multiple regions in the past year. Experts note that hydroelectric power, accounting for over 60% of the nation’s energy mix, faces growing challenges from prolonged droughts. Thus, Earth Hour underscored the need to diversify energy sources, with a focus on solar and wind power.
Global participation in 2025 further highlighted the movement’s strength. In Hong Kong, the temporary dimming of skyscrapers paired with an awareness campaign on energy waste. In Italy, the Vatican blackout drew attention to Pope Francis’s call for an “integral ecology,” blending environmental care with social justice.
Standout locations in 2025
Certain places stood out for their beauty and symbolism during the blackout:
- London Eye: The Ferris wheel along the Thames went dark, contrasting with the lit cityscape.
- Opera House: In Sydney, the campaign’s founding landmark dimmed once more, moving Australians.
- Tokyo Tower: Japan reinforced its role by switching off one of its most famous icons.
- Table Mountain: In South Africa, the darkened mountain captivated onlookers.
The 2025 Earth Hour edition made it clear that the fight for a sustainable planet hinges on collective action. From historic monuments to modern skyscrapers, the global blackout united nations in a simple yet powerful gesture, resonating as a wake-up call for the future.
Darkness enveloped iconic landmarks worldwide on the night of March 22, 2025, marking another edition of Earth Hour. This annual event invites individuals, businesses, and governments to switch off their lights for 60 minutes, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness about climate change and the urgent need to protect the environment. This year saw massive participation, with entire cities plunged into shadow to emphasize the call for sustainable action. From the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro to the Empire State Building in New York, the initiative united millions in a visually striking demonstration.
In Lisbon, key tourist attractions like the Belém Tower and São Jorge Castle went dark, showcasing Portugal’s commitment to the cause. Meanwhile, in London, the London Eye, along the Thames, turned off its colorful lights, with Big Ben’s silhouette in the background amplifying the message. The global movement, organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), also reached Italy’s heart, where historic buildings such as Montecitorio and Palazzo Chigi in Rome joined the push for a more balanced planet.
What began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, has grown exponentially over the years. Today, Earth Hour spans more than 180 countries and territories, making it one of the world’s largest environmental campaigns. The 2025 edition brought renewed focus on cutting carbon emissions and preserving biodiversity, topics that have dominated global discussions following recent reports of alarming rises in average planetary temperatures.
Este 22 de março é o dia em que a #ONU comemora a #HoradoPlaneta. Todos os anos, a organização convida o mundo para apagar as luzes às 8h30 da noite. O movimento global #HoraDoPlaneta chama a atenção para a mudança climática e o futuro da humanidade:#EarthHour @antonioguterres pic.twitter.com/XMbuVc5vSk
— ONU News Português (@ONUNews) March 21, 2025
Key landmarks that joined the blackout
The participation of famous landmarks remains a highlight of Earth Hour, serving as a visual reminder of the scale of environmental challenges. Here are some of the sites that turned off their lights in 2025:
- Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro stood in darkness, spotlighting Brazil’s role in combating deforestation.
- Arc de Triomphe in Paris went dark, reinforcing France’s commitment to the Paris Agreement.
- Empire State Building in New York symbolized U.S. involvement in the movement.
- St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican joined the effort, reflecting the Catholic Church’s focus on sustainability.
Historical impact and growth of the movement
Since its inception, Earth Hour has evolved from a local event into a global platform for awareness. In its debut year, over 2.2 million people and 2,000 businesses in Sydney turned off their lights, cutting the city’s energy use by about 10% for one hour. This initial success inspired other nations to join, and by 2025, the reach was even more remarkable, with estimates suggesting billions participated directly or indirectly. Governments and organizations also rallied behind the event, using it to announce bolder environmental goals.
Over the years, the initiative has expanded beyond merely switching off lights. Parallel campaigns now promote lifestyle changes, such as reducing single-use plastics and adopting renewable energy sources. In Hong Kong, for instance, the city’s skyscraper-filled skyline dimmed partially, while local authorities unveiled plans to boost energy efficiency in public buildings. In Brazil, the Christ the Redeemer blackout coincided with discussions about preserving the Amazon, which lost over 11,000 square kilometers in 2024 alone, according to official figures.
The movement also mirrors growing concerns over climate change effects. Recent data indicate the planet has warmed by about 1.2°C since pre-industrial levels, with scientists warning that exceeding 1.5°C could trigger irreversible consequences, such as accelerated glacier melting and rising sea levels. Against this backdrop, Earth Hour acts as a rallying cry, uniting communities for a shared purpose.
Brazilian cities at the forefront
In Brazil, participation in Earth Hour 2025 was robust, with several state capitals actively involved. In Rio de Janeiro, the Christ the Redeemer statue, one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, went dark for 60 minutes, creating a striking image against the night sky. In São Paulo, the Estaiada Bridge and Copan Building followed suit, while in Belo Horizonte, the Praça da Liberdade stood out. Local governments seized the opportunity to launch environmental education campaigns, distributing materials on recycling and resource conservation.
Brazil’s engagement is not new. Since officially joining in 2009, the country has seen growing participation each year. In 2025, over 100 Brazilian municipalities turned off lights in public buildings and landmarks, a 15% increase from the previous year. The event also aligned with local efforts to curb the impact of wildfires, which hit record levels in parts of the Pantanal and Amazon in recent months.
Global landmarks that stood out
Beyond the examples already noted, other landmarks worldwide made an impression during Earth Hour 2025. In Tokyo, the Tokyo Tower switched off its red, white, and green lights, while in Sydney, the Opera House, the event’s original icon, once again went dark. In South Africa, Table Mountain in Cape Town participated, offering a unique view for residents and tourists witnessing the blackout.
These sites not only reinforce the environmental message but also draw significant media attention, amplifying the campaign’s reach. In many cities, the event featured in-person activities, such as candlelit walks and sustainability talks. In London, groups gathered near the London Eye to discuss climate solutions, while in Paris, volunteers handed out flyers on energy efficiency.
Earth Hour timeline worldwide
The event’s journey reflects its rising impact over the decades. Here are key milestones:
- 2007: First edition in Sydney, with 2.2 million participants.
- 2011: Expansion to 135 countries, including Brazil.
- 2020: Shift to virtual formats due to the pandemic, achieving record online engagement.
- 2025: Over 180 countries involved, emphasizing biodiversity and carbon reduction.
Efforts beyond the blackout
Earth Hour extends beyond a single hour without lights. In 2025, several cities used the event to launch long-term projects. In Lisbon, authorities announced plans to plant 10,000 trees over the next two years, while New York committed to cutting energy use in municipal buildings by 20% by 2030. These steps demonstrate how the movement sparks tangible change, linking the symbolic blackout to practical outcomes.
In Brazil, the event doubled as a platform to address the ongoing water crisis, which has strained reservoirs across multiple regions in the past year. Experts note that hydroelectric power, accounting for over 60% of the nation’s energy mix, faces growing challenges from prolonged droughts. Thus, Earth Hour underscored the need to diversify energy sources, with a focus on solar and wind power.
Global participation in 2025 further highlighted the movement’s strength. In Hong Kong, the temporary dimming of skyscrapers paired with an awareness campaign on energy waste. In Italy, the Vatican blackout drew attention to Pope Francis’s call for an “integral ecology,” blending environmental care with social justice.
Standout locations in 2025
Certain places stood out for their beauty and symbolism during the blackout:
- London Eye: The Ferris wheel along the Thames went dark, contrasting with the lit cityscape.
- Opera House: In Sydney, the campaign’s founding landmark dimmed once more, moving Australians.
- Tokyo Tower: Japan reinforced its role by switching off one of its most famous icons.
- Table Mountain: In South Africa, the darkened mountain captivated onlookers.
The 2025 Earth Hour edition made it clear that the fight for a sustainable planet hinges on collective action. From historic monuments to modern skyscrapers, the global blackout united nations in a simple yet powerful gesture, resonating as a wake-up call for the future.
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