The concept of Earth Hour and the message it carried was brilliant in its simplicity when it was first conceived. Those who came up with the idea needed that it would be the beginning for people in general to take a clue and do something more for addressing the issues like environment pollution, declining biodiversity and climate change.

Over the years this great initiative has been reduced to a mere ritual of switching off our light bulbs for an hour. We are used to looking at photographs of major global iconic buildings turning into their own silhouettes for an hour.

It sure saves some electricity. But the idea is not to stop just at switching off light bulbs for an hour and then go about your daily chores thinking you have done your service in saving the global environment.

The idea behind the one appointed hour every year is to sit and reflect. Reflect on our every wasteful move and how can we bring down our environmental footprint to let the Earth recoup itself.

According to latest reports by Global Footprint Network, human race’s need for natural resource is 54 per cent more than the nature’s capacity to regenerate itself. Our increasing urban population and its improving economic conditions is spurring the demand for more resources. It will put further pressure on the global resources.

It is this pressure that needs to be eased as it will have disastrous consequences on the environment, weather systems and ultimately our own lifestyles.

So the one hour we get every year should be a time to close our eyes and reflect on the grave challenges we as humans pose to the Earth due to our actions. We should also ask a fundamental question. Are the risks worth taking? How we can individually as well as collectively, using our innate genius, come up with solutions to reverse the trend?

This exercise will make the Earth Hour much more meaningful and restore its importance.