Earth Hour: Big Ben goes dark to raise environmental awareness
World landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House are switching off their lights to mark the World Wildlife Fund campaign
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.The lights behind Big Ben went dark for an hour tonight as the UK took part in Earth Hour.
The Houses of Parliament and the London Eye on the opposite bank of the Thames joined Buckingham Palace and world landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House in switching off their lights for 60 minutes to mark the World Wildlife Fund campaign.
Other UK landmarks due to take part to raise environmental awareness included Tower Bridge, Edinburgh Castle, Brighton Pier, Durham Cathedral and Windsor Castle.
In London the event was marked by a flashmob of 60 people dressed as pandas before singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor played a concert in front of the London Eye, with the performance streamed live on YouTube.
Wearing a dress covered in solar-powered lights, she joked to fans: "There is normally a great view of Big Ben from here but for some reason it is in darkness."
Dougie Poynter from pop group McFly was also involved in the event.
Earth Hour was launched in 2007 in Australia and has since spread around the world.
Last year 10 million people in the UK took part, WWF said, as part of a record-breaking chain of more than 7,000 towns and cities in 154 countries.
This year's symbolic switch-off started in Samoa and swept around the planet via major cities of the world all turning off their lights at 8.30pm. The last place to do so will be Tahiti.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments