New Delhi — The iconic India Gate will switch off its lights on Saturday between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. IST to mark Earth Hour 2026, a worldwide initiative encouraging people to turn off non-essential lights to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the campaign, observed under the theme “Give an Hour for Earth,” which highlights the importance of collective action for protecting the planet.
Organised annually by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour began in 2007 as a symbolic lights-off event in Sydney and has since evolved into one of the world’s largest grassroots environmental movements. Millions of individuals, businesses, and landmarks across more than 190 countries and territories now participate each year.
Ahead of the observance, city authorities across India have urged citizens to switch off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances during the one-hour period. In Hyderabad, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) appealed to residents to actively participate in the initiative.
GHMC Commissioner R. V. Karnan encouraged people to treat the gesture as more than an energy-saving measure. He said that dedicating just one hour to the planet can inspire meaningful change and contribute to a sustainable future.
Across India and around the world, prominent landmarks and public spaces will join the symbolic switch-off, drawing attention to the urgency of climate action and resource conservation. Last year, structures such as Rashtrapati Bhavan and other national monuments also participated in similar lights-out observances.
Environmental experts note that Earth Hour serves as both a symbolic gesture and a reminder of the shared responsibility to address climate change — from reducing energy consumption to supporting practices that protect ecosystems and cut carbon emissions.
With inputs from IANS