Earth Hour: Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Earth Hour is a global grass-roots movement encouraging individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take positive actions for the environment, and celebrating their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. One year later, Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries/territories participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Coliseum and our Niagara Falls all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
Each year, Earth Hour aims to show the actions that people, businesses and governments world-wide are taking to reduce their environmental impact. Thereby establishing and encouraging others to join an interconnected global community engaged in dialogue and resource sharing that generates real solutions to environmental challenges.
The annual highlight of Earth Hour sees the world’s most iconic landmarks go dark for one designated hour, as hundreds of millions of people transcend race, religion, culture, society, generation and geography, switching off their lights in a global celebration of their commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all - the planet.
In Niagara Falls, the City will be turning off non-essential lighting at facilities and encourages residents and businesses to do the same. Street lights and lighting essentials for safety will not be included. The nightly illumination of Niagara Falls will be turned off in support of the climate change initiative.
We ask you to consider participating this year by turning off your lights at your residents and place of business. Let’s show the world that Niagara Falls is an earth friendly City. Visit earthhour.org to view more information on this special event.
Earth Day: Monday, April 22, 2024 - 4pm to 6pm
Celebrated annually on April 22, Earth Day is a global event to create awareness for environmental conservation and to encourage people to be more environmentally conscious and take action to reduce environmental impacts. More than 6 million Canadians join 1 billion people from over 170 different countries to participate in Earth Day celebrations and events.
Earth Day is a time to promote awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment, sustainable living and earth awareness. Environmentalists all over the world will recycle, conserve energy and teach the importance of energy conservation this Earth Day. For more information on Earth Day in Canada, you can visit www.earthday.ca.
How YOU can support Earth Day
Residents are inspired to be more environmentally conscience, and take action to reduce the environmental footprint. The purpose of Earth Day is to teach people simple strategies to conserve energy and participate in environmental conservation and demonstrate how easy it is to conserve energy without causing any inconveniences. The City of Niagara Falls encourages residents to participate in activities that create a healthier environment, setting an example for the next generation. Activities can be continued outside of Earth Day and be applied all year. Consider participating in the annual Earth Day Clean-Up starting at 4:00 pm at the MacBain Community Centre. Residents are encouraged to register online prior to the start of the event.
Residents are also encouraged to share positive, exciting and unique stories about how they support environmental conservation (ie. composting at home, reusing old products, homegrown fruits/veggies, etc.) to inspire others to follow by example.
Here are some great ideas to consider while planning your Earth Day activities:
- Encourage family and friends to participate in Earth Day activities.
- Register for the City's annual Earth Day Community Clean Up event.
- Can't help clean-up on Earth Day? Consider helping to clean-up litter at our two local cemeteries on Saturday, April 27 from 9am to 12pm. Email Cemetery Services to register.
- Leave your car at home. Utilize your bike or walk for exercise, but ensure to practice social distancing.
- Turn your energy towards the backyard and consider doing some yardwork.
- "Turn off the lights", energy conservation. Plan activities all day with the lights off.
- Turn the laptop off and play board games or cards with family.
- Composting. Make an effort to compost daily.
- If you are starting to garden, consider planting some pollinator flowers to attract bees, which are essential to our food chain.
- Plant an "Earth Day" legacy tree in the backyard with your family.
- Ditch the Plastic. Stop buying single use plastic beverage containers and instead, buy liquids in bulk.
- For new parents, consider using cloth diapers.
- Think before you print.
- Post online what you plan to do during Earth Day to inspire others to participate.
