A loud message about protecting our planet is going to be emitted this year millions of people in more than 180 countries, symbolically turning off the lights for an hour, on the occasion of “Earth hour».
“Earth Time 2025” in Greece is dedicated to the sea, and is expected to take place on Saturday (22.3.2025) at 8:30 pm until 21.30 pm
The world’s largest WWF campaign launched in 2007 will be attended by sights, important monuments, bodies and businesses around the world.
According to the WWF announcement, “the sea is our home, our history, our survival and our summers. It is the home for unique species such as whale blowers, Caretta caretta turtles and Mediterranean seals. Beaches and tourist destinations for every taste, underwater routes, travel at sea and Greek fishermen who have kept the thread of our tradition alive for centuries. This is a taste only by the rich mosaic of the Greek sea »
WWF also recalls that “2024 was the warmest year ever recorded worldwide, with the consequences of climate change now becoming life and natural ecosystems”
In this context, WWF is calling for all citizens to “remember the enormous value of our sea and its valuable resources, to be informed of the threats of the marine ecosystem, and to actively contribute to the protection of our seas”
Specifically, in view of this year’s “Earth Time”, citizens can devote a few minutes to:
Learn about our marine protected areas
The main tool for protecting life in the Mediterranean is marine protected areas (NPPs). The benefits of their proper management are not limited to the natural environment. On the contrary, they concern and affect human well -being in many ways. However, it is estimated that only 1.3% of the marine surface covered by NPP in Greece has a management plan. In addition, even in cases where legal protection measures have been adopted, their implementation and enforcement are very often inadequate and incomplete.
Read more about NPPs HERE.
Protect the blue forests of the Mediterranean
Poseidonia meadows offer invaluable benefits to the environment and humans, and have managed to survive all changes and extreme climate conditions from the dinosaur era to the present day. But will they be able to withstand the modern man? The main threats facing Poseidonia meadows are seas heating, pollution, coastal growth and anthropogenic changes in coastline. The very slow rate of growth and physical rehabilitation of Poseidonia jeopardizes the natural ability of the meadow to recover.
Read more about Posidonia meadows HERE.
‘Sink’ into the world of cetaceans
The Greek seas hide many great secrets. Cetodes are perhaps one of the greatest mysteries, but also the greatest miracles we find in their waters. Admiral predators, shy divers, affectionate mothers, lonely male coexists in the Mediterranean waters and maintain the thread of balance in the sea and in our environment. This wonderful water world is threatened. Many cetaceans are caught in the tools of fishermen and frozen or killed. Still, they are threatened by navigation, mining activities, sonar military exercises and pollution.
More about the cetaceous of the Greek seas you can find HERE.
Although the “Earth Time” movement lasts only one hour, the goal is to encourage people to think about how they can improve their actions to protect the environment and fight climate change, not only during this time, but also throughout the year.
So let us all leave our obligations for a while and give us an hour, turning off the electrical appliances, in order to show our interest in protecting the environment.