For one hour on Saturday, March 28, more than 7,000 cities in 162 countries will go black from 8:30 to 9:30 pm local time. Paris, the City of Lights, will disappear in the night and for a brief moment even the Eiffel tower will stand ghostly in the dark. The Great Pyramids of Giza will fade. The Las Vegas strip will stop glittering—all in the name of a brighter future.

Earth Hour, sponsored by World Wildlife Fund, is meant to raise awareness to slow climate change. Last year Hong Kong alone reduced carbon emissions by 153 tonnes— all in a single hour. It would take 6,661 trees one year to absorb this amount of carbon.

But there is more to the event than a simple switch-flick. Earth Hour thinks of itself as a kick-starter for the planet.

“Climate change is not just the issue of the hour, it's the issue of our generation,” said Sudhanshu Sarronwala, Chair, Board of Directors, Earth Hour Global, in a press release. “Earth Hour is the world’s most enduring people’s movement focused on climate. The lights may go out for one hour, but the actions of millions throughout the year will inspire the solutions required to change climate change.”

Cities host candle-bedecked festivals and dedicate their hour to a particular environmental cause, raising money through crowdsourcing to create actual change. This year, Finland will host their largest candle-lit dinner party in which Fins across the country will dim the lights and dine on sustainable foods with their families and friends.

Australia, the birthplace of Earth Hour, will also focus on sustainable food. The Murray Darling Basin, which provides 40 percent of Australians’ crops, is already suffering from climate change and is slotted for a 97 percent decline in productivity within the next 100 years. Citizens can show their support for farmers and alternative energy by switching out their lights, or by donating money to provide every member of Parliament with a cookbook written by local farmers about how climate change will change the food industry. Even days before Earth Hour, the country has nearly reached their goal of $10,000.

Photo by iStock/rwhitacre

This is the ninth year Earth Hour has sent rolling darkness over the planet and participation continues to grow with each year. In Sierra’s neck of the woods, the Golden Gate Bridge will turn off all non-essential and decorative lighting.

Find some fun in the dark in your city by using the Earth Hour Tracker map or participate at home by simply turning out the lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. Go for a walk or read by candlelight. Brush the dust off that acoustic guitar and enjoy the night.

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