UEFA will give its backing to social responsibility partner WWF – the global conservation organisation – by taking part in the Earth Hour initiative on Saturday 23 March to highlight the issues of climate change and protecting the environment.

European football's governing body is joining in the campaign being organised by the WWF network across the globe. The lights at UEFA's headquarters – the House of European Football in Nyon, on the banks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland – will be switched off for one hour from 20.30CET on Saturday.

"I am delighted that UEFA is taking part in the 2013 Earth Hour, the largest mass participation event in the world," said UEFA Executive Committee member and chairman of the UEFA Fair Play and Social Responsibility Committee, Peter Gilliéron.

"Earth Hour asks every one of us to take action on climate change and join the global movement towards a sustainable future. Through Earth Hour's 'I Will If You Will' initiative, we can each become an inspiration to others by sharing what we're willing to do to save the planet. We urge the whole football family to join together this Earth Hour, and to turn the inspiration of one hour into the actions of every hour."

Earth Hour is a global environmental effort undertaken in partnership with WWF. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to link up with the global community for the world's largest environmental event that has become a symbol of people's commitment to safeguarding the planet.

In 2013, Earth Hour's I Will If You Will concept encourages individuals and organisations to challenge others to make an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. Earth Hour began in one city in 2007, and by 2012 involved hundreds of millions of people in 152 countries across every continent, in what was reported as the world's largest campaign for the planet.

"Earth Hour has always been more than a lights off campaign, and we are now seeing some extraordinary environmental outcomes on the way to achieving our long-term vision," said Andy Ridley, CEO and co-founder of Earth Hour.

Founded in 1961, WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation bodies, with a global network active in more than 100 countries, and focused on protecting the planet's extraordinary wildlife species and habitats and reducing humanity's footprint.