This Saturday, ScottishPower will join forces with millions of people from over 150 countries across the world to signal our commitment for urgent action on climate change and nature loss for WWF’s Earth Hour. We’ll be switching off the lights at our Glasgow HQ, and we’re helping our customers take action. This Saturday, our Power Saver service is in support of Earth Hour. Not only will our customers save money, we’ll make a donation to WWF.

Since its launch in 2007, Earth Hour has sparked real change. It’s helped drive the creation of Argentina’s largest marine protected area, led to a ban on plastic packaging in the Galapagos Islands, supported new climate legislation and even contributed to the establishment of a national park in Malaysia. 

Right now, as global momentum on climate action faces challenges, public support is more important than ever. In the UK, the majority of people still back the goal of net zero by 2050. Earth Hour makes visible this collective support for action - it strengthens the case for faster, more ambitious change.  

We know that over a third of the emissions reductions needed to meet the UK’s carbon targets will come from individual choices; from the way we travel to how we power our homes, our everyday decisions send a signal that drives wider change. 

On average, an adult in the UK has a carbon footprint of over 8 tonnes of CO₂ made up of everything from our diet, to how we travel, to the amount of ‘stuff’ we consume. On their own, individual behaviours will never unlock the institutional, system and infrastructure changes the climate emergency requires, but they’re an essential signal of our support for those changes. 

The Race to Net Zero - launched at COP26 in Glasgow - is about unlocking a better future, quicker. That means embracing cleaner energy, healthier lifestyles, and more sustainable choices. It’s about valuing quality over quantity and making changes that benefit both the planet and our own wellbeing. 

Earth Hour is a symbol of hope, but it’s also a call to action. This year, let’s do more than switch off the lights—let’s commit to real change, big or small. Whether it’s reducing our energy use, cutting down on waste, or rethinking how we travel, every step counts. If you want to get a handle on your carbon footprint and look at what is powering it, check out the WWF Carbon Calculator. 

This Saturday when Earth Hour comes round again millions of people across the world will signal their support for action for climate and nature. Let’s also use this as a moment to turn signals into actions.  The case for a better future quicker has never been stronger and more pressing, let’s all throw our weight behind achieving it, in whatever way we can.

Dr Sam Gardner
Head of Climate Change and Sustainability, ScottishPower