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POST TIME: 1 April, 2019 00:00 00 AM
Global landmarks go dark for Earth Hour
AFP, New York

Global landmarks go dark for Earth Hour

A tourist junk boat sails in Victoria Harbour before the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Hong Kong on Saturday. The 13th edition of Earth Hour, organised by the green group WWF, will 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. AFP PHOTO

New York’s Empire State Building, the pyramids of Egypt and Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue were among top world monuments plunged into darkness for an hour Saturday to put the spotlight on climate change and its impact on the planet. Organized by environmental watchdog WWF, the 13th edition of Earth Hour saw millions of people across 180 countries turning off their lights at 8:30 pm to highlight energy use and the need for conservation.

The event follows some of the direst warnings to date on the state of Earth’s natural habitat and species.

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

Speaking to AFP, Dermot O’Gorman who heads WWF-Australia, said Earth Hour was “the world’s largest grassroots movement for people to take action on climate change.