On March 23, thousands gathered at the Earth Hour Festival at Wisma Atria Singapore to celebrate Earth Hour 2024, one of the largest annual global grassroots movements for the environment and climate change awareness. Attendees participated in various eco-centric activities and took part in the iconic Switch Off moment from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Organized by WWF-Singapore (World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore), the event focused on raising awareness and rallying action on climate change and sustainability through community engagement. The Earth Hour Festival in Singapore was built upon three thematic pillars:

• Climate and sustainability
• Nature and biodiversity
• Community

These pillars echoed the findings of the Voices of Singapore study conducted by WWF-Singapore. Earth Hour sought to highlight the interconnectedness between climate change and nature loss. The hour highlighted a striking temperature increase of 0.25°C per decade between 1948 and 2022 in Singapore, double the rate observed globally. The loss of 69% of wildlife populations globally since 1970, revealed by the latest WWF Living Planet Report, highlights the crisis of biodiversity loss facing humanity.

Earth Hour 2024 harnesses the power of individual action in responding to the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, including climate change awareness. The festival featured a magical Switch Off moment alongside a curated array of climate-conscious activities, including performances, educational stations and circular economy workshops.

At the heart of WWF-Singapore’s Earth Hour Festival was the call for individuals to contribute to WWF’s global Hour Bank initiative—a collective tally of nature-positive actions pledged during Earth Hour and beyond, promoting climate change awareness. Netizens and festival-goers pledged many hours towards positive climate actions, demonstrating their commitment to Earth Hour 2024 and environmental stewardship.

Vivek Kumar, CEO of WWF-Singapore, said: “With the simple gesture of switching off for one hour, the people of Singapore along with businesses and policymakers, united to send a resounding message today: climate action matters. 

“The launch of Hour Bank in Singapore shows that we are determined to act for our planet beyond the hour. Earth Hour encourages our community to learn more about the science behind climate change, and to reflect on how to act together with conservation organizations and Singapore’s Green Plan to secure the future of our next generation.”

Some of the festival highlights included:

• Epson planting workshop using pots recycled from used EcoTank ink bottles, highlighting the crucial link between people and nature. Epson, as the first-ever International Partner for Earth Hour, aimed to raise awareness about these issues and collaborated to protect and restore the Coral Triangle. This was a powerful example of how businesses innovate to give their products a new purpose, contributing to sustainability efforts while promoting environmental consciousness among participants.

• As part of Watsons’ collaboration with WWF for Earth Hour 2024 Roadshows, they spotlighted sustainable selections from both Watsons Brand and their Exclusive Brands. At Watsons’ pop-up booth in Wisma Atria, patrons were encouraged to participate in recycling efforts by bringing their own bottles, rewarded with a complimentary 100ml refill of Naturals by Watsons Shampoo or Shower gel. Additionally, those who followed Watsons Singapore on either Facebook or Instagram also received a free Naturals by Watsons Hand Cream.

• Children were delighted with the opportunity to receive Glow-in-the-dark Panda Tattoos and meet beloved Sesame Street characters like Elmo and the Cookie Monster, promoting Earth Hour 2024. This year’s festival held particular significance for children, as WWF Singapore understands the importance of instilling environmental stewardship values from a young age. Partnering with beloved children’s programs like Sesame Street added to this mission, as the show has episodes dedicated to environmental stewardship values.

• One of WWF’s EcoSchools, Henry Park School showcased an activity station presenting student-led projects engaging the entire school community. Students distributed homemade eco-enzymes, a versatile liquid derived from organic waste, as a token of appreciation. The school, honored with the Green Flag Award for its waste reduction and sustainability efforts, also had its Primary Choir perform enchanting songs at the Symbolic Switch-Off event.

• The festival’s edutainment stations provided interactive experiences for attendees to recycle and reuse materials, play games like “Sort and Score” and explore the significance of ecosystem services through activities such as “Wild Match”. Attendees also had the opportunity to discover Hour Bank and register personal commitments towards sustainability.

• As the evening approached and anticipation grew for the famous ‘Switch Off’ moment at 8:30 pm, attendees eagerly awaited the entertainment lined up for the occasion. Hosted by MediaCorp celebrity Joakim Gomez, the Switch Off featured captivating performances by WWF’s Eco-Schools, Damaru Singapore, Green Drummers, and the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS). The gradual dimming of lights across Orchard Road created a poignant moment of unity in the collective effort for the planet.

Orchard Road, Singapore’s iconic shopping district, transformed into a beacon of solidarity during Earth Hour as renowned buildings such as ION Orchard, 313@somerset, Forum The Shopping Mall, Orchard Hotel Singapore, Paragon, Shangri-La Singapore, Shaw House, and more dimmed their lights. 

The city’s skyline took on a serene glow as these landmarks, including Wheelock Place, Paragon, Tang Plaza, and others, united in support of the global movement for environmental awareness and action.

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All photos credit: WWF-Singapore