Every March, something remarkable happens across the world. Cities dim their skylines, homes turn off their lights, and communities gather in candlelight. For one hour, millions of people pause their routines to reflect on the planet we share. This is Earth Hour, one of the world’s largest grassroots environmental movements, an hour that has become a symbol of hope, collective action, and care for the Earth.
Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. What started as a simple gesture- switching off lights to raise awareness about climate change, quickly evolved into a global phenomenon. Today, it is celebrated in more than 190 countries and territories. Landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Empire State Building have gone dark during Earth Hour, sending a powerful message: small actions, when taken together, can spark global change.
But Earth Hour is about much more than switching off the lights. It is about reminding people that protecting the planet requires collective effort, creativity, and commitment. Over the years, the movement has grown into a platform for communities, governments, businesses, and individuals to champion solutions for climate change and biodiversity loss. It encourages people everywhere to rethink their relationship with nature and take meaningful action for the future.
Nepal’s Earth Hour Journey
Nepal celebrated its first Earth Hour in 2010. The event took place at the iconic Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most sacred Buddhist landmarks in the world. Students, environmentalists, civil society members, and the public gathered together to mark the occasion.
Instead of electric lights, participants lit candles and butter lamps to symbolize solidarity in the fight against climate change. Spiritual singer the Venerable Ani Choying Drolma performed a song of peace as the lamps were arranged to form a giant Earth Hour symbol. The moment was both symbolic and powerful, demonstrating how a global movement could resonate with Nepal’s spiritual and cultural traditions.
That first celebration set the stage for what would become an annual event bringing together thousands of people across the country.
In the years that followed, Earth Hour celebrations in Nepal grew in scale, creativity, and participation.
In 2011, simultaneous celebrations were held at Boudhanath Stupa and in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The event featured music, lights, and environmental pledges. During the celebration, the Lumbini Development Trust announced major commitments, including planting 108,000 saplings in the Lumbini Garden, declaring the core garden a non-smoking and plastic-free zone, and shifting toward energy-efficient lighting in monasteries.
By 2012, Earth Hour events had expanded to Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu and the Sacred Garden in Lumbini. Thousands of young people gathered to celebrate the event through live music and environmental activities. That year also supported WWF’s “Green Lumbini Initiative,” which mobilized major financial institutions to fund the planting of thousands of trees.
The movement continued to reach new audiences. In 2013, Earth Hour was celebrated in Pokhara with live performances by popular Nepali artists. Music became a powerful way to connect with youth and inspire environmentally responsible lifestyles. The event also included a clean-up campaign at Phewa Lake, where volunteers worked together to remove invasive water hyacinth. Hundreds of people joined the initiative, including public figures who helped amplify the message of conservation.
What makes Earth Hour in Nepal particularly special is how it blends environmental awareness with culture, art, and community participation.
In 2014, the celebration took place at Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu. The event included live acoustic music, art installations, poetry, and storytelling. These creative expressions helped translate complex issues like climate change into relatable messages that could resonate with a wider audience.
Over the years, well-known artists, musicians, and youth leaders have contributed to the celebrations. Rock band performances, spoken word poetry, and live art have transformed Earth Hour events into vibrant gatherings that inspire action.
For example, the 2015 celebration at Kathmandu Durbar Square featured performances by the iconic Nepali rock band 1974 AD. The event was linked with WWF Nepal’s “Generation Green” campaign, which encouraged young people to take leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development. Social media campaigns and selfie contests further engaged youth, turning Earth Hour into a participatory movement beyond the physical event.
In 2016, another memorable moment occurred when thousands of candles lit up Basantapur Durbar Square during a candlelight vigil. Spoken-word poets used their voices to highlight the urgency of climate change and encourage people to take climate action in their daily lives.
Although Earth Hour is symbolized by a single hour of darkness, its impact goes far beyond those sixty minutes.
Over the years, the campaign has helped raise awareness on critical environmental issues in Nepal, including land restoration, renewable energy, wildlife protection, sustainable lifestyles, and waste reduction. Activities such as tree planting, clean-up campaigns, eco fairs, concerts, and educational events have all been part of the celebrations.
Earth Hour has also provided a platform to bring together diverse groups from students and activists to businesses and government institutions, to share a common commitment to protecting the planet.
As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres once said, Earth Hour is a reminder that all of us can play our part-both in large ways and small- to protect our common home and safeguard our future.
In a country like Nepal, where communities live close to nature and depend heavily on natural resources, environmental protection is deeply connected to everyday life. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution pose real challenges, but they also highlight the importance of collective action.
Earth Hour offers a simple yet powerful opportunity for people to pause, reflect, and reconnect with nature. Whether by switching off lights, planting trees, reducing waste, or supporting conservation efforts, everyone can contribute.
Over the past decade and a half, Earth Hour in Nepal has evolved into more than just an event. It has become a movement that celebrates the planet, encourages dialogue, and inspires action.
Each year, when the lights go out and candles glow across cities and heritage sites, it sends a quiet but powerful message: together, we can create a brighter future for our planet.
