In Pictures: People around the world turn off lights to mark Earth Hour

Earth Hour will see millions of people across 180 countries turn off their lights at 8:30 pm local time

SYDNEY: The Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge among other key landmarks around the globe were plunged into darkness for an hour Saturday to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on the planet's vanishing biodiversity.

The 13th edition of Earth Hour, organised by the green group WWF, is set to see millions of people across 180 countries turn off their lights at 8:30 pm local time to highlight energy use and the need for conservation.

"We are the first generation to know we are destroying the world. And we could be the last that can do anything about it," the charity said.

Dozens of companies around the world have said they will join in this year's switch-off.



The event comes after some of the most dire warnings yet on the state of Earth's natural habitat and species.

Another data-set confirmed the depth of an unfolding mass extinction event, only the sixth in the last half-billion years.

Paris's Eiffel Tower, New York's Empire State Building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa and the Acropolis in Athens are among the 24 global landmarks that will take part in Earth Hour.

The Victoria Harbour is seen before being plunged into darkness for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Hong Kong on March 30, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

The Victoria Harbour is seen after its lights went out for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Hong Kong on March 30, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the ferris wheel are seen before being plunged into darkness from Sydney's Luna Park for the Earth Hour environmental campaign on March 30, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the ferris wheel are seen after their lights went out as seen from Sydney's Luna Park for the Earth Hour environmental campaign on March 30, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

A general view of the Marina Bay Sands hotel and resort are seen lit shortly before the lights were turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Singapore on March 30, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

A general view of the Marina Bay Sands hotel and resort are seen with the lights turned off during the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Singapore on March 30, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

The hotel "Kazakhstan" is seen before the lights are switched off for Earth Hour in Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 30, 2019. PHOTO: REUTERS

The hotel "Kazakhstan" is seen after the lights are switched off for Earth Hour in Almaty, Kazakhstan, March 30, 2019. PHOTO: REUTERS

An Indonesian man lights up candles to create the shape of the wifi signal for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Surabaya, East Java province, on March 30, 2019.  PHOTO: AFP