Hundreds of millions of people across the globe are set to take part in Earth Hour – an annual event designed to draw attention to wastage of resources.
Many of the world’s most iconic attractions, including Sydney Opera House, the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower will take part.
Moscow’s Kremlin joins in, with electricity to be switched off for an hour in the heart of the Russian capital this year.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the UN headquarters in New York City will join more than 7,000 cities and towns in more than 150 countries and territories for Earth Hour.
“We participate with an undimmed determination to take action on climate change,” he said.
The event has gone global with organisers claiming that more than 6,000 cities and towns across 150 countries switch off their lights for the hour this year.
Kremlin turns lights off for the first time this year as Russia contributes to the Earth Hour. Armenia has switched lights off as the country joins the Earth Hour for the fifth time.
Nepal has switched off lights as Earth Hour comes to the country. Lights have also been turned off all over Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have joined Earth Hour.
In China, Shanghai’s famous Bund will turn off its lights while in the central city of Wuhan, the Yangtze River bridge will be plunged into darkness.
In Japan, daily illuminations of the city’s signature Tokyo Tower will be switched off, with visitors able to pedal bicycles to generate power to illuminate an egg-shaped art work.
Said to be the largest environmental campaign in history, Earth Hour was first observed in Sydney in 2007 to send a strong message calling for action on climate change and environmental conservation.
