KATHMANDU, MARCH 22
WWF Nepal marked Earth Hour 2025 and World Water Day with a series of impactful environmental initiatives across the country, achieving milestones in river cleanup, public engagement, and awareness campaigns.
This year's celebration led to the removal of over 1 ton of waste from Nepal's rivers through cleanup campaigns, according to the press release issued by the WWF Nepal.
The highlight was a grand Earth Hour event near Chitwan National Park in Bharatpur in Chitwan, attended by over 5,000 people, featuring a star-studded concert that blended music, culture, and sustainability. The event featured performances by renowned and emerging Nepali artists, including Sameera Sunar & Sandesh Bishwokarma, Razan Thapaliya, Subarna Poudel, Shiva Kandel, and a grand performance by Trishna Gurung and the Collab Band. The concert blended music, culture, and sustainability, creating an electrifying atmosphere dedicated to climate awareness.
In addition to the entertainment, the event showcased local delicacies from homestays supported by WWF Nepal and highlighted sustainable livelihoods through handicrafts created by community beneficiaries.
Earth Hour 2025 extended beyond Bharatpur, mobilizing communities across Nepal through various conservation efforts leading up to the main event. A large-scale river cleanup in Chitwan was organized on World Wetlands Day (February 2, 2025) in collaboration with local organizations to highlight the importance of rivers and wetlands in biodiversity conservation, the press release noted.
Several pre-Earth Hour cleanup drives were also conducted. On March 17, a Treasure Hunt & Clean-Up at Devghat Dham, led by Better Chitwan, removed 179 kg of non-biodegradable waste with the participation of 40 volunteers. On March 20, a cleanup along the Gaidakot side of the Narayani River, organized by Sahamati, resulted in the collection of 40 sacks of waste with 78 volunteers. Another major cleanup effort on March 21 at Amaltari and Lamichaur sites of the Narayani River, coordinated by Sahamati and the Terai Arc Landscape team, gathered 750 kg of waste with the help of 150-200 volunteers, WWF Nepal said.
In Far Western Nepal, a two-day river cleanup in the Karnali River and Jamara Canal saw the participation of 258 volunteers, addressing local water pollution issues. The event also included an art competition for schoolchildren and a meditation session to promote mindfulness and conservation awareness, the release further stated.
Meanwhile, in Kathmandu, local businesses joined the movement, with Roadhouse Café and Hard Rock Café taking part in the global "switch-off" initiative, raising awareness about Earth Hour and sustainable living among their guests.
