At 8.30pm this Saturday (27th March) it's hoped that millions of households will switch off their lights for Earth Hour, in order to raise awareness for climate change.
Earth Hour has been going for a while now, but it's even more important this year with the upcoming general election. Awareness now could dictate how political parties approach green living and climate change in the future.
The campaign is run by WWF, who are determined to reduce the threat climate change has on wildlife and humans. They're working towards preventing average temperatures rising 2°C above pre-industrial levels, which would lead to a high risk of severe and irreversible changes for the planet.
Switching off the lights needn't mean you can't enjoy family time. Here are some ideas for what to do when you switch off the lights.
- Create a tasty dinner together and eat it by candlelight (they might not notice any new vegetables either!)
- Grab a couple of great DVDs and some popcorn and have a movie night
- Get the kids to take it in turns reading a story out by torchlight
- If you've got a games console like a Wii or Xbox, have a games competition
- A clear sky will give you the opportunity to teach your kids a bit about astronomy. Enjoy the stars!
- Check with your local council to see if they're doing a special event - or organise something with your neighbours and get the lanterns lit in your gardens.
Want to get involved? You can pledge your support to Earth Hour by signing up here.