WILLEMSTAD – Several of Curaçao’s most iconic locations will go dark on Saturday evening as part of the global Earth Hour initiative, aimed at raising awareness about nature and climate change.
From 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., lighting will be temporarily switched off at prominent sites including Brionplein, the Queen Emma Bridge, Handelskade, and the Governor’s Palace. The symbolic action is intended to draw attention to environmental challenges and encourage more sustainable behavior.
The initiative is part of Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature, during which millions of people, businesses, and governments turn off their lights for one hour.
Other Caribbean islands are also participating. On Bonaire, street lighting around Wilhelminaplein and parts of Kaya Grandi will be switched off. In Aruba, various government services and utility companies are joining the effort, while in Sint Maarten, non-essential lighting on the Causeway Bridge will be turned off.
Organizers say the event is not only meant as a symbolic gesture but also as a call for lasting change. Residents and businesses are encouraged to adopt more sustainable practices, such as reducing energy and water consumption, minimizing waste, and making environmentally conscious choices.
Since its launch in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a global movement. For Caribbean islands, participation carries particular significance, as the region remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, drought, and increasingly severe storms.
