Our Planet Is Facing Multiple Crises, Do You Feel It？

The Origin of Earth Hour

Earth Hour was first initiated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Sydney, Australia in 2007, with the aim of raising awareness of climate change and environmental protection through simple actions such as turning off lights. Unexpectedly, this small action quickly swept across the globe and became one of the largest environmental movements in the world.

Every year on the last Saturday of March at 8:30 pm, millions of households, businesses, and landmark buildings around the world turn off non essential lights to participate in this global environmental event - Earth Hour. The Earth Hour time for 2025 is from 20:30 to 21:30 on March 22nd (Saturday).

It's more than just an hour. Earth Hour is not just a symbolic event, but a reminder that every small action we take can bring change to the planet. Turning off the lights for an hour is not only to save energy, but also to call attention to sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.

The Earth is currently facing numerous severe problems, among which climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss are three extremely prominent and interrelated global challenges that pose a serious threat to the sustainable development of the Earth's ecosystem and human society.

“There will be more plastic than fish in terms of weight in the world's oceans by 2050.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     ——United Nations report

1. Climate change

Global temperatures are rising and extreme weather events are occurring frequently.

Climate change is one of the most severe challenges facing the world today, mainly manifested as rising global temperatures, frequent extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have burned a large amount of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, releasing a large amount of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect and global warming. In addition, deforestation also reduces the Earth's ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Climate change has had profound impacts on the Earth's ecosystem and human society. Glacier melting and rising sea levels are threatening the survival of coastal cities and island nations; Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, etc. occur frequently, causing huge losses to agriculture, infrastructure, and human life safety. Meanwhile, climate change has also caused serious damage to biodiversity, with many species facing the risk of extinction due to their inability to adapt to rapidly changing climates.

2. Plastic pollution

About 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year.

Plastic pollution is another urgent global environmental problem that needs to be addressed, especially in the marine environment. Every year, a large amount of plastic waste enters the ocean, forming huge floating garbage piles like the 'Pacific Garbage Patch'. These plastic wastes not only pose a direct threat to marine life, such as death caused by marine animals ingesting plastic, but also ultimately affect human health through the transmission of the food chain. In addition, plastic waste takes hundreds of years to decompose in the natural environment, during which harmful chemicals are continuously released, polluting soil and water sources, and causing long-term negative impacts on the entire ecosystem. The root cause of plastic pollution lies in the excessive use and improper handling of plastic products. The widespread use of disposable plastic products and the lack of effective recycling systems have led to a large amount of plastic waste being discarded indiscriminately or entering the natural environment without treatment.

3. Biodiversity loss

Many species are on the brink of extinction due to habitat destruction.

Biodiversity is the result of billions of years of development and evolution of life on Earth, and is the foundation on which human survival and development depend. However, the biodiversity on Earth is currently facing an unprecedented crisis of loss. Habitat destruction and fragmentation are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss, as human activities such as deforestation, urban expansion, and agricultural development constantly encroach upon and alter the living environment of wildlife. In addition, factors such as overdevelopment, pollution, and climate change have accelerated the loss of biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity not only means the extinction of species, but also disrupts the balance and stability of ecosystems, affecting various services provided by ecosystems such as water conservation, soil conservation, climate regulation, etc., thus having a serious impact on human survival and development.

What should we do to protect our planet?

Faced with the three major issues of climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss, the international community and governments around the world have taken a series of actions. For example, the Paris Agreement aims to control greenhouse gas emissions globally and address climate change; Many countries and regions have implemented plastic restrictions or bans to reduce plastic pollution; At the same time, countries are also strengthening biodiversity conservation by establishing nature reserves, national parks, and other protected areas to maintain the integrity and stability of ecosystems. However, addressing these issues requires joint efforts on a global scale, including broad participation from governments, businesses, social organizations, and the public. Everyone can take action in their daily lives, such as reducing the use of disposable plastic products, saving energy, participating in environmental activities such as afforestation, and contributing their own efforts to protect the earth.