June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova; North Korea; Russia; Israel
Jamaica
Jamaica;
Skylines go dark. Hotel and house windows dim. Across the globe, sparkling cities get just a little less bright.
It’s Earth Hour: the worldwide movement, begun in 2007, to encourage people, businesses, and cities to turn out their lights for just one hour as an acknowledgment of the battle against climate change. In 2018, Earth Hour takes place at 8:30 p.m. your local time on Saturday, March 24.
You won’t see a total blackout during Earth Hour — more of a gradual dimming. While more than 12,000 landmarks and monuments switch off their lights, as well as countless businesses and homes, not everyone participates.1 Features like streetlights and signs typically remain lit. It’s held in late March because that’s when the sun sets at approximately the same time in the northern and southern hemispheres, making it easier to see the global effects of Earth Hour.2
Many people think Earth Hour is an actual effort to reduce the world’s energy consumption during that short time. Which, of course, leads to many questions: What’s the point of doing it just for an hour? How much energy is actually saved? And does it make any difference?
Large cities do see a dip in their power consumption, but that’s not the point, organizers say. The intention is to help people realize that their small actions, like turning off a light, do matter, and to encourage them to continue efforts to conserve energy and protect the environment. “Participation in Earth Hour symbolizes a commitment to change beyond the hour,” WWF says.
During Earth Hour itself, many people host candlelight dinners or marches or listen to live-streamed concerts in honor of the event. In addition to activities like these, we suggest making lasting changes in your lifestyle. Consider:
If you’re planning a big vacation this year, think about ways to reduce the environmental impact of travel. Can you choose an eco-lodge instead of a sprawling mega-resort? If you’re flying, can you purchase carbon offset credits, which pay for planting trees or other remediation? Or can you choose an airline like JetBlue or United that has committed to using more biofuels?7 Wherever you travel, ask questions — and protect your vacation investment with travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance.
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