On March 28, 2026, at 8:30 PM local time, Claretian communities around the world joined millions of people in observing the 20th edition of Earth Hour, the global initiative inviting everyone to “Give an Hour for Earth.” Across the globe, major cities, public and government institutions, businesses, households, and iconic landmarks switched off non-essential lights for one hour, turning skylines dark in a shared call to protect the climate and biodiversity. In many countries, this symbolic lights-off moment was accompanied by community events, youth initiatives, and online campaigns highlighting the urgency of moving away from fossil fuels and caring for our common home.
Marking two decades of this worldwide campaign, Claretians connected this global gesture with deeper reflection on the climate crisis, the continued dependence on fossil fuels, and the environmental consequences of ongoing conflicts, particularly the war in West Asia.
From parishes in large cities to remote mission stations, Claretian communities marked Earth Hour 2026 with simple yet meaningful gestures: switching off non-essential lights, gathering by candlelight for prayer and reflection, and organizing small community-based activities. Rooted in Laudato Si’ and the Claretian commitment to care for our common home, these moments connected care for creation with the lived realities of vulnerable communities.
Nineteen Claretian Major Organisms, including the General Curia in Rome, actively participated in this year’s observance, with communities in 21 countries joining the initiative. The Claretian Team at the UN received around 320 photos from missions, parishes, schools, formation houses, and social ministries, capturing a rich diversity of local expressions—from youth-led prayer services to quiet family gatherings in the dark.
To support this global participation, the Claretian Team at the UN prepared three key resources: a Prayer Guide, a Reading and Reflection Guide, and a practical guide with six suggested activities for the hour. These materials invited communities to reflect on the climate emergency, the injustices linked to the fossil fuel-based economy, and the environmental and human consequences of the war in West Asia. They also encouraged Claretians to move beyond the one-hour gesture by promoting ecological education, advocacy, and more sustainable lifestyles.
This year’s Earth Hour was also situated within a wider global and ecclesial context. In April 2026, the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands will host in Santa Marta, Colombia, the First International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, a landmark initiative aimed at advancing international cooperation on phasing out fossil fuels in a just and equitable way, and linked to the Fossil Fuel Treaty initiative. In preparation, Bishops’ Conferences from the Global South (FABC, SECAM, CELAM), together with partners from Europe and the Pacific, have issued a call for a fair transition that protects affected communities and ecosystems.
More than a symbolic gesture, Earth Hour 2026 renewed the Claretian commitment to care for our common home and stand with communities most affected by climate change, environmental degradation, and conflict. With gratitude for the wide participation, the Claretians now look ahead to Earth Hour on March 27, 2027, continuing to care for our common home.
