On March 25, power down for Earth Hour

The 2°C threshold is rapidly approaching, and the need to combat climate change is more urgent than ever. On Saturday, millions of people around the world will unplug to shine light on this pressing issue.

Organized by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour is an international grassroots movement to raise awareness around environmental problems. It began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, and now attracts participation from more than 178 countries and territories worldwide. Last year, it was observed everywhere from Antarctica to the International Space Station.

This year, Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 25, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Everyone is encouraged to turn off all non-essential lights, take a moment to think about the energy we use and figure out ways to reduce it.

At Concordia, non-essential lights will be turned off in major buildings on both the Loyola and Sir George Williams campuses. Want to do your part? Unplugging electronic devices that won’t be used over the weekend and turning off power bars ensures that energy won’t be wasted.

Because the university has a responsibility to provide a safe campus, certain lights must be left on.

It’s also worth noting that most of Concordia’s main buildings already have energy-saving features, such as motion detectors. These and other measures have made it the most energy efficient of all major Quebec universities for 18 consecutive years.

Have your say in Concordia’s sustainability planning process through this online form.