Ravi Singh, Secretary-General and CEO of WWF-India, brings decades of experience and passion to the forefront of India’s environmental movement. Singh has been involved in conservation since 1976 and now leads the country’s largest conservation organization. His wide-ranging interests—from high-altitude trekking and photography to Indian history and Western classical music—inform his holistic approach to nature and sustainability. In an exclusive conversation with The Sunday Guardian, he reflects upon Earth Hour, the urgent need for water conservation, and how everyday citizens are key to driving lasting environmental change.
According to Singh, Earth Hour is far more than a symbolic act of switching off lights. “It’s an endeavor to reflect, engage, and take meaningful steps toward addressing the twin challenges of climate change and water conservation,” he explains. “Climate and water are deeply intertwined. Both are central to our work, and this year we wanted to link them meaningfully—not just symbolically, but through real voices and real stories.”
As Earth Hour 2025 captured imaginations across continents, a powerful wave of awareness and action swept through the Indian subcontinent. In Delhi and cities across the country, citizens, institutions, and government bodies came together in collective purpose. For the first time, the event in Delhi spanned two days, featuring film screenings, interactive panels, and workshops.
But the true impact extended far beyond the capital. In states like Assam, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, WWF-India witnessed grassroots initiatives take root—from river clean-ups and educational drives to school-led awareness campaigns—transforming Earth Hour into a decentralized, community-driven movement. “Some people are inspired by a simple thought: ‘I may not be able to do everything, but I can do this.’ And that often becomes a guiding theme throughout their lives,” Singh reflects.
This year’s central narrative was not just about conservation, but regeneration—particularly in terms of reviving and managing India’s water resources. “There’s a difference between a shortage of water and the management of water,” Singh emphasizes. “If we manage our resources well, we have sufficient water for both our needs and ecological health.”
He is candid about the challenges. From depleted aquifers in Punjab to water stress in cities like Bengaluru and Chennai, India’s water systems are under intense pressure. Yet Singh remains optimistic. “It’s not beyond our control,” he asserts. “Our ecological structure is still intact. We’ve seen degradation, yes, but recovery is possible through informed action.”
WWF-India’s water-related work is already well established, particularly in the wetlands of the Ganga and Kaveri basins. “This year, we plan to expand our efforts to the Brahmaputra basin,” Singh reveals. “Each river system is different, so we can’t replicate approaches wholesale. But the principle of localized, ecologically sensitive intervention remains the same.”
Importantly, Singh highlights that WWF’s role is not to dominate the narrative, but to enable and amplify it. “We aim to showcase and support efforts led by quiet changemakers who may not seek the spotlight but are deeply respected in their regions,” he says. “They don’t talk much about themselves—but their work speaks volumes, and it deserves recognition and support.”
Aligned with this philosophy, WWF-India intentionally keeps its branding minimal. “We don’t insist on our logo being everywhere,” Singh explains. “It’s about the message, not the ownership. People should feel free to make this movement their own.”
And they have. Iconic Delhi landmarks like India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan observed the symbolic blackout. In Mumbai, beach clean-ups drew enthusiastic volunteers. Guwahati’s railway stations featured Earth Hour messaging. Across schools, housing societies, and universities, conversations around sustainability took root. “One day may not change everything,” Singh acknowledges, “but it can spark a lifelong commitment.”
He points to Chennai as a telling example: a coastal city still heavily reliant on inland freshwater sources. “Even though we are surrounded by seawater, we are still tapping into stored freshwater,” Singh says. “We haven’t yet explored sustainable alternatives seriously. But the monsoon remains our greatest natural blessing. We must not lose our relationship with nature. Understand your water source—where does it come from? Which basin? Can you contribute to conserving the Western Ghats or the Himalayas so your urban life remains viable?”
The festival also prompted reflection on agricultural practices and policy-level gaps. Singh noted the severe strain on Punjab’s groundwater due to excessive irrigation and insufficient recharge. “We need to think seriously about how to replenish our aquifers using what we already have. This isn’t just a state issue—it’s about the entire Indus basin, which is under immense stress.”
Yet, even with such concerns, Singh consistently returns to a theme of hope. “Just outside Bengaluru, our colleagues helped revive tributaries. Wetlands have come back. Our aquifers can recover, too.”
While Earth Hour is a global movement, Singh notes that the Indian edition has grown to become one of the largest in terms of reach and participation. He is quick to clarify, however, that WWF’s role is purely facilitative. “Governments choose to turn off the lights. Citizens choose to act. We simply create space and offer a platform. If people didn’t see value in it, they wouldn’t participate.”
Indeed, Earth Hour has become far more than a symbolic blackout—it’s a living, evolving tapestry of stories, actions, and intentions, woven across India’s diverse ecological and cultural landscapes. “This is the hour of possibility,” Singh says with quiet conviction. “If even one person finds inspiration—whether it’s turning off a light, reviving a well, or planting a tree—then we’ve succeeded.”
Ahead of Earth Day 2025, as WWF-India looks ahead to expanding its climate and water programs, particularly in ecologically sensitive river basins, it stands firmly on a foundation built by changemakers—both known and unsung—who continue to prove that even in a world fraught with environmental challenges, regeneration is not only possible, but already underway.