On the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour, the world’s largest collective environmental movement, calls for people around the world to reflect on how they can live sustainably by lowering their carbon footprints. This year, the WFF encourages everyone to participate in Earth Hour at home, happening from 8:30-9:30pm on Saturday, March 27, and get the world talking by raising awareness online in the first ever “Virtual Spotlight.”
In Hong Kong, this year’s “Let Oceans Shine” theme intends to spotlight the beauty and value of our marine environment, as well as the threats it is facing – from single-use plastic to unsustainable fishing. You can take the pledge to reduce your human footprint and protect our oceans here. The lights-off hour is a symbolic gesture, designed to inspire conversations about environmental goals and lifestyle choices aimed at protecting the planet and the people that call it home.
Hong Kong Restaurants Honouring Earth Hour
Roganic
Staying true to its sustainable roots, Roganic is showing it support by turning off its restaurant lights for Earth Hour and giving guests a candlelit evening. Each table will receive a locally grown nasturtium from Common Farms in a pot made from Eco-Greenergy, created with recycled coffee grounds. Roganic is known for its focus on local ingredients with a city-centric take on a farm-to-table culinary experience.
Amber, SOMM, PDT at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
Also joining the Earth Hour movement by switching to candlelight are the Landmark Mandarin Oriental’s many venues, including Amber, SOMM, and PDT. During that time, the regular music at the restaurants will be replaced by live acoustic performances and guests are encouraged to choose from the available plant-based menus. At Amber and SOMM, the lights will be out for a full two hours, from 8-10pm. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental has a history of prioritizing sustainability initiatives, including the goal of eliminating single-use plastics this year.
BEDU
At Bedu, chef Corey Riches partnered with Peggy Chan for an Earth Hour special on March 17, with six sustainable, food-waste friendly designed with a lower carbon footprint in mind. The multi-course feast featured dishes such as an ugly carrot hummus, baharat spiced tofu, and black garlic and cabbage mille-feuille grown using clean energy. Peggy and Corey introduced each dish by explaining the sustainable goals behind them and guests received a handmade, zero-waste preserve to take home to further inspire the Hong Kong Earth Hour movement.
History of Earth Hour in Hong Kong and Beyond
Last year in Hong Kong, Earth Hour was supported by almost 4,500 companies, organizations, and buildings, in addition to over 100 schools and various prominent landmarks. Some of the places that turned off their lights in support include the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, International Commerce Centre, and the Hong Kong Observation. The famous Symphony of Lights is also suspended every year on the day Earth Hour takes place.
Earth Hour was started in 2007 by WWF in Sydney, Australia as a symbolic lights-out event and has grown into one of the largest global grassroots environmental movements, engaging millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories. Although eating dinner by candlelight or turning the lights off for an hour isn’t enough of an impact, using that time to meaningfully reflect and spark a larger conversation can make a collective difference.
