For another consecutive year, the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning is commemorating Earth Hour, which falls on Saturday 27th March.

This was announced by the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change, and Planning Aaron Farrugia who explained that the aim of Earth Hour is to raise awareness, especially on our collective duty to safeguard our environment, whereby a small effort by everyone results in major global benefit. 

The ministry joined other countries around the world to raise awareness on the problems stemming from excessive and unsustainable energy consumption, which brings about many negative impacts including air pollution and waste of natural resources. 

This was done in collaboration with a number of local entities to turn off lights between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm, including the Auberge de Castille, the Triton Fountain, Parliament Building, various ministries and local councils, public gardens, and other buildings. 

The minister explained that this year’s theme was ‘Speak for Nature’, highlighting the need to be responsible for our environment. “Our environment is one of the strongest mechanisms with which humans can combat the negative effects of climate change. If we do not safeguard our environment, ecosystems and everything else depending on it will fail”, said the minister, encouraging others to participate in this initiative from their own households and places of work, and to remain conscious of their energy consumption throughout the year.