Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Earth Hour: Lights switched off across planet from Samoa and Hong Kong to Buckingham Palace

Over 7,000 cities in more than 170 countries and millions of people took part in global switch-off event

Josh Gabbatiss
Science Correspondent
,Zamira Rahim
Saturday 30 March 2019 18:01 GMT
Comments
WWF encourages people around the world to turn off lights for Earth Hour 2019

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Lights at landmarks, businesses and homes were switched off for Earth Hour on Saturday.

The annual event aims to highlight the impact humans have on the planet due to climate change, pollution, plastic and food production.

Over 7,000 cities in more than 170 countries took part in 2019.

Organisers at conservation charity WWF said they hoped the event would send a message to international leaders that protecting the Earth should be top of their agenda.

Proceedings kicked off this year in the Pacific island nation of Samoa at 8:30pm local time.

The event has since swept across Australia, Asia and Europe.

Earth Hour events have spread to more than 180 countries since the movement started in 2007.

Activists at events on Saturday called for greater awareness and more sparing use of resources, especially fossil fuels that produce carbon gasses and lead to global warming.

WWF said that people living today were the first generation to experience the effects of climate change, and the last to be able to change it, while the planet is also suffering plastic pollution and deforestation.

The charity encouraged people to pledge personal actions as part of this year’s Earth Hour, such as turning the washing machine down to 30C, avoiding single-use plastics, planning a staycation or holiday nearer to home, changing the way they eat or helping restore nature in their local area.

If you would like to see how Earth Hour 2019 unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:

Earth Hour kicked off this year long before many people's days had begun, in the Pacific island nation of Samoa

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 13:20

Australia was among the first places to switch of for Earth Hour - the iconic Sydney Opera House was among the landmarks with it's lights off

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 13:28

Earth Hour has already swept across the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, and now it has moved onto Indonesia.

This photo shows a before and after view of the Marina Bay Sands hotel and resort during Earth Hour Singapore (AFP) 

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 13:41

Darkness descends as Earth Hour makes it to Indonesia!

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 13:44

Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong before and after the switch off for Earth Hour (AFP) 

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 14:02

If you want the lowdown on what Earth Hour is all about and some of the major landmarks that will be participating this year, check this piece out:

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 14:15

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 14:31

Not everywhere is getting into the spirit of the occasion, it seems...

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 14:47

As the event has swept across East Asia, major landmarks including Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour and Taipei 101 in Taiwan had their lights turned off.

Other big landmarks across the world switching off their lights will include:

Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, London

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Pyramids of Egypt

Empire State Building, New York

Colosseum, Rome

Acropolis, Athens

Girls in East Java province, Indonesia celebrated Earth Hour (Juni Kriswanto/AFP) 

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 15:17

The switch-off is about to hit South Asia!

josh.gabbatiss30 March 2019 15:28

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in