Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights.

In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated.

In 2009, Earth Hour reached 1 billion people in 4,088 cities and towns in 88 countries making it the largest public demonstration for action on climate change ever.

On a more local scale, Mayor Keith Sullivan encourages local businesses and individuals to turn their lights off at 8:30pm simply to recognise the fact that humanity needs to reduce its carbon footprint.

Cr Sullivan said that council make efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, such as using gas powered cars and investigating street lighting systems that use less power.

Cr Sullivan encourages the community to switch off their lights just in an effort to be thinking about the huge amount of electricity used every day and its effect on the planet.

Cr Sullivan said that recent reports about the increasing cost of electricity could be a second motivator in making the effort to turn off lights on Saturday night.

Cr Sullivan is aware that many locals will not be able to turn off all their lights for numerous reasons, but said that if households could just turn off a few unneeded lights and standby switches, it does make a difference.

“We should join in to show we are thinking about it,” he said.

“I'll be doing my bit.”

Earth Hour is this Saturday, March 27 from 8:30pm for one hour.