Paris, known as the City of Love, shines bright all day long. The lights of the city attract tourists and keep the atmosphere warm and glowing.

However, these lights are not environmentally friendly because they are always on. One group of Parkour athletes–people who get from one point to another by running, climbing, and jumping–decided to take matters into their own hands. 

More than ten years ago, Paris City Hall passed a law encouraging stores to turn lights off between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM. Unfortunately, in hopes of attracting more people, many stores ignored this policy. That is, until the Parkour Athletes. 

Fed up with this waste of electricity, athletes go out at night, determined to reduce this excess light. They seek out emergency light switches located outside the corresponding stores. Using their parkour skills, they turn off as many lights as they can. Groups like ‘On The Spot’ record themselves throughout the night and post on social media, spreading awareness and encouraging others to find creative ways to help the planet. 

On top of this, the government recently passed a law that clearly states the rules for advertisement signs and enforces a fine of $1,480 if lights are not turned off during the night.

With this new decree and rising activists, stores have become more mindful of their use of electricity, with the rest of the city right behind them. Sometimes, innovative ideas are all we need to spark hope and take action!

Sources: BBC, Euronews