Zimbabwe celebrates Earth Hour 2022 in style

Posted on 06 April 2022

Earth Hour, the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment unites millions of people around the world to show solidarity for both people and the planet. This year’s event brought people around the globe to unite in a moment of reflection on their relationship with each other and their collective home.

This Earth Hour - 26th March 2022 there was a broader call to action: that everyone has a part to play in shaping a new future for people and planet, from taking individual steps towards living sustainably to urging companies and governments to help build a nature-positive and carbon-neutral future.

From the Sydney Opera House where Earth Hour began in 2007, through the Gateway of India, Beijing Phoenix Center in China, Brandenburg Gate in Germany, the Colosseum in Italy, Empire State Building in the USA all the way to Zimbabwe, people took part in activities that symbolise a more sustainable future for everyone. This year’s theme was Shape Our Future. For World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Zimbabwe this has meant a greater focus on supporting the youth to take the lead in environmental conservation.

Said Zimbabwe’s child president, Hazel Mandaza at an Earth Hour 2022 commemoration on 24 March in Marondera: “Such occasions remind us of the importance of conserving our environment and nature. Earth Hour reminds us to take charge of our environment. It is not only for the love of nature now but for the concern of future generations that we should conserve our environment.”

Each year, Earth Hour provides people around the world with the opportunity to show how much they care about nature – and to help others understand its vital importance in our lives. It is a time to celebrate, but also a time to highlight the need for action.

Said Dr Enos Shumba, WWF Zimbabwe country director: “This Earth Hour 2022 we call on everyone to unite in solidarity for people and the Earth. We face many challenges but we should ensure that 2022 remains a critical year for this Planet, our shared home. We should all take positive action to ensure we have a world where people and nature are able to thrive together.”

Since its launch, the campaign has helped to give people a powerful voice on the climate and nature loss crises. This year an alliance of governments and organizations, including WWF, are calling for increased ambition and urgent action to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.

This year’s Earth Hour reached millions of people in a record-breaking 192 countries and territories.

A march in the streets of Marondera town, Zimbabwe to mark Earth Hour 2022