Cities across world go dark to mark Earth Hour
The Eiffel Tower in Paris and Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate joined iconic buildings across the globe in turning off the lights.
Cities around the world have been marking Earth Hour by turning off the lights for 60 minutes in a call for global action on climate change.
The Earth Hour movement aims to create greater awareness and more sparing use of resources, especially fossil fuels that produce carbon gases and lead to global warming.
Beginning in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has now spread to more than 180 countries, with tens of millions of people joining in.
In Paris, the lights on the Eiffel Tower – which normally dominate the city’s skyline after dark – were turned off for the event, from 8.30pm local time.
In Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate was plunged into darkness – illuminated only by the lights of environmental campaigners depicting a map of the world.
In the Polish capital Warsaw, the landmark Palace of Culture and Science turned off its night illumination, along with some churches and Old Town walls.
Lights were also switched off in several landmarks in the Greek capital. The Acropolis, Athens City Hall and Lycabettus Hill, which towers above the city, went dark and the Parliament building also joined in.
As night fell in Hong Kong, major buildings along Victoria Harbour turned off their non-essential lights and the city’s popular tourist attraction known as the Symphony of Lights was cancelled.
Taipei 101, Taiwan’s tallest building, joined surrounding buildings in shutting off the lights.
