The future of the planet rests in the hands of its citizens, an environmental charity has insisted.

Ahead of Earth Hour on March 22, Greenrock is calling on the community to “reflect on the consequences of our choices, the unprecedented loss of nature, and the systematic dismantling of our connection to the planet”.

The charity is also inviting sponsors to donate to Greenrock’s community programmes and services.

Eugene Dean, chairman of Greenrock, said: “With significant environmental rollbacks, renewed prioritisation of fossil fuels, and global climate commitments being questioned, we cannot wait for policymakers to change course …

“Join us. Stand with us. Support us. Take responsibility.”

The 2025 campaign marks Greenrock’s 18th consecutive year of encouraging Bermuda to switch off lights for 60 minutes.

Mr Dean questioned why it is necessary to have so many environmental charities and organisations on the island including the Bermuda National Trust, Keep Bermuda Beautiful, the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, Bermuda is Love and Beyond Plastics.

He said: “Why must we continue speaking publicly about the rapid loss of nature?

“This decline is not happening in isolation. It is part of a broader, systematic breakdown of the very systems that sustain life itself — the systems that have nurtured our families, our communities and our planet for generations.

“Somehow, in our relentless pursuit of ‘progress’, we have turned our backs on nature, the very force that gives us life.

“Just as strong communities rely on a foundation of care and responsibility, our planet thrives when we respect and nurture it.

“Despite our intelligence and understanding of fundamental ecological principles, we find ourselves at a point where disregard for environmental responsibility has led to the degradation of our natural world and increasing division within our communities.

“If our path is one of progress, why do we find ourselves so disconnected from nature — the source of our existence?”

He said as well as raising awareness of environmental issues, it is important to take action.

He added: “Our goal is to raise significant funding during this campaign to support key environmental initiatives, inspire nature-positive action and ensure that our community is actively engaged.

“Through our programmes, we are investing in proven education initiatives such as the Green Building Forum and the Living Green Expo, grassroots advocacy through the Bermuda Clean Air Coalition, targeted research on renewable energy solutions, and relentless engagement with key stakeholders to develop tangible solutions that combat pressing challenges such as soaring energy prices, air pollution, overconsumption and excessive waste.”

Mr Dean called on corporate and individual sponsors to contribute.

He said: “This is about more than just switching off the lights for an hour. It’s about switching on a mindset shift — a commitment to sustainable living, responsible choices and collective action.”

Greenrock’s Earth Hour campaign will run until Earth Day on April 22.

• For more information, visitwww.greenrock.org