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• Earth Hour 2021 comes ahead of key events whereÌýdecisions will be taken by world leaders on climate action, sustainable development, and nature to define our future and the future of the planet.
• Scientific evidence shows that nature loss is linked to an increased risk of pandemics.

26 March 2021 –ÌýTomorrow eveningÌýon Saturday, 27 March at 8:30 p.m. (local time!),Ìýone of the largest global grassroots movements for the environment, will virtually bring together millions of people, businesses and leaders fromÌýaround the worldÌýto shine a spotlight on the urgent need to address nature loss and climate change byÌýswitching off their lights for one hour. WithÌýÌýpointing towards a close link between nature’s destruction and rising incidences of infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19,ÌýEarth Hour 2021Ìýwill unite people online to speak up for nature. This global event comes ahead of key moments when world leaders will take critical decisions onÌý,ÌýÌýand sustainable development, setting the course of our future.

In the midst of the global COVID-19 health crisis, Earth Hour marksÌýa moment of solidarity for the planetÌýas global communities unite and organise events digitally. Consequently,ÌýÌýand the national offices that comprise it (WWF-Bulgaria, WWF-Hungary, WWF-Romania, WWF-Slovakia and WWF-Ukraine) will once again commemorate Earth Hour 2021 completely online this year.

What’s happening?
WWF-RomaniaÌýis organising a series ofÌýonline workshopsÌýfor people to reconnect with nature, with their loved ones and with themselves. For example, there will be a workshop on how to prepare healthy food by valuing local resources with tips fromÌýÌýtoday on the 26th. There will also be a workshop on the 27^thÌýwith Andreea Ioniță () on how to relax and recharge with Yin & Yang yoga.

WWF-SlovakiaÌýand the Rescue Centre for Injured Animals in Zázrivá areÌýlaunching the CHANCE FOR ANIMALS CampaignÌýto raise funds to develop the Centre’s facilities and allow it to help more injured animals to get back to nature. Help them on Earth Hour and donateÌý.ÌýWe have a shared responsibility to protect wildlife of our planet.

WWF-UkraineÌýis using the day to launch theirÌýMy Voice for Old-Growth Forests Campaign. WWF-Ukraine and its partners have identified almost 100,000 hectares of ancient forests (by law: virgin, quasi-virgin and natural forests) in the Carpathians and Polissya. More than 33,000 hectares of them are still either unprotected or have insufficient conservation status and are in danger of destruction due to logging, development of unsustainable tourist infrastructure, roads and other economic activities. Together with thousands of Ukrainians, they are making a stand to preserve Ukraine’s oldest forests for future generations.

Besides switching off the lights,ÌýWWF-Hungary is using the event to encourage people to keep their eyes openÌýand be environmentally-conscious in general or in certain parts of their lives – not just during this one hour. As always, lights will be switched off at certain national monuments and buildings such as Parliament and Heroes’ Square in Budapest, and in several other municipalities in Hungary.

WWF-BulgariaÌýis turning the Earth Hour into anÌýEarth MonthÌýthis year, starting from Earth Hour and lasting until Earth Day on 22 April. The focus will be on theÌýprotection of brown bearsÌýin Bulgaria, whose population has been nearly halved in the last 10 years. To kick off this special month, WWF-Bulgaria has prepared a very specialÌý 27 March at 20:30 on Facebook and Youtube (@WWF Bulgaria). Performers include RDMK, Kerana & Kosmonavtite, Magy Aleksieva – MEY, Elena Sirakova, Paraplaner, KostaÌýKarakashyan, Buny Verse & Strella, and Nicky Stanoev – all are giving their voices for the bears and calling for their protection. You can become an important part of this great cause and help us protect the bears in Bulgaria atÌý

The occurrence of several catastrophic incidents last year, including extreme weather events, devastating wildfires and the COVID-19 outbreak highlighted that preventing nature loss is crucial for safeguarding our future. AÌýÌýshowed that the world failed to meet the 2020 deadline for achieving the targets set a decade ago for preventing nature loss. Earth Hour marksÌýa pivotal opportunityÌýfor civil society organisations, individuals, businesses and environmentalists to call on world leadersÌýfor setting nature on a path to recovery by 2030. People-led initiatives around the world like Earth Hour are vital to continue to inspire awareness on the importance of nature and prompt action to help deliver a nature positive world by the end of the decade.