Earth Hour
Why It Matters - And Why We’re Switching Off
Every year, people, businesses and communities around the world take part in Earth Hour - switching off non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about climate change and environmental protection.
It takes place on the last Saturday in March from 8:30pm to 9:30pm (local time).
But while the gesture is symbolic, the message behind it is significant.
At Moco Coaching, we believe Earth Hour is more than turning off a light switch - it’s a reminder to reflect on our relationship with consumption, energy, wellbeing and responsibility.
And this year, we will be switching off.
What Is Earth Hour Really About?
Earth Hour was created by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to encourage global collective action on climate change and nature loss.
Millions of people across over 190 countries participate each year - making it one of the largest environmental movements in the world.
During that hour, landmarks, homes and businesses turn off lights as a visible commitment to sustainability.
But the real impact isn’t measured in electricity saved over 60 minutes.
It’s measured in awareness, behaviour change and ongoing action.
Why Climate Action Matters in the UK
The UK has set legally binding targets to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
However, progress requires continued action across businesses, government and households.
Some key UK context:
🌍 The UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions have fallen significantly since 1990 - but progress has slowed in recent years as harder-to-abate sectors remain challenging.
🏢 Business and industry account for around 17–18% of UK emissions (UK government data).
🏠 Homes contribute roughly 15% of emissions, largely through heating and energy consumption.
🚗 Transport remains one of the largest emitting sectors in the UK.
These figures highlight something important:
Sustainability is not just an environmental issue - it is a leadership issue.
It requires conscious decision-making at individual, organisational and systemic levels.
Why Earth Hour Matters
At Moco Coaching, we often talk about awareness before action.
Earth Hour reflects that principle perfectly.
Turning off lights for one hour is not about sacrifice - it’s about intention.
It creates space to ask meaningful questions:
How do our daily habits impact the world around us?
Where are we consuming more than we need?
How can we build systems that support sustainability - physically and mentally?
Interestingly, there is also a powerful parallel between environmental sustainability and personal wellbeing.
Both require:
✔ Reflection
✔ Regulation
✔ Long-term thinking
✔ Consistent small actions
Just as the planet cannot sustain constant overconsumption, neither can the human body or nervous system.
Burnout often mirrors environmental depletion - it happens when resources are overused without recovery.
Earth Hour becomes a symbolic reminder to pause, reset and rebalance.
What Businesses Can Learn
For organisations, participating in Earth Hour can be more than a symbolic act.
It can spark conversations around:
Reducing energy waste in offices and facilities
Reviewing travel policies
Improving resource efficiency
Embedding sustainability into company values
Sustainability is increasingly important to employees and customers alike.
In fact, research shows that a growing number of UK consumers expect businesses to demonstrate genuine environmental responsibility - not just marketing commitments.
Taking visible action builds trust and accountability.
Our Commitment at Moco Coaching
This year, we will be switching off.
From 8:30pm to 9:30pm on Earth Hour, we will turn off non-essential lights and equipment as a small but meaningful contribution to global awareness.
More importantly, we see it as a reminder to operate with intention - in our business decisions, our coaching approach and our impact.
We believe progress happens when awareness meets action.
And sustainability - whether environmental or personal - starts with conscious choices.
Earth Hour may last for just sixty minutes.
But the conversations it inspires can last much longer.
It reminds us that small collective actions create momentum.
And that change begins with awareness.
We encourage you to consider switching off too - whether at home or in your workplace.
Because when we act together, the impact is amplified.