Earlier today, Girl Scouts of the USA announced a collaboration with Earth Hour to  increase environmental education, awareness and action. Since its inception, Earth Hour has encouraged individuals, businesses and governments to turn off non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one designated hour each year as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness of the need to take action on climate change.

Earth Hour is encouraging participants to go beyond the hour by making a pledge of ongoing sustainable action for the year ahead and Girl Scouts have been called on to bring the movement to life. Girls and their families can join Earth Hour in this symbolic global effort by turning off the lights from 8:30-9:30 pm on the last Saturday of March and by combining the act of installing ENERGY STAR® or other energy-efficient light bulbs, to ultimately reduce carbon emissions throughout the year and beyond. Learn more here.

The Earth Hour collaboration is a part of GSUSA’s Girl Scouts Forever Green initiative, a national effort of girls leading their families, schools, and communities in improving the environment and protecting natural resources, that will be launching in July 2011. GSFG invites girls to Take Action on three major projects, one of which is Earth Hour. Participants are also encouraged to take an Online Pledge stating their yearlong commitment to GSFG efforts.

Will you be participating in Earth Hour this year on March 26? Be sure to send us your photos or post them to our Flickr or Facebook pages!