On Saturday, 23 March 2024, cities around the globe participated in Earth Hour, an annual event designed to promote awareness of the climate crisis and encourage the adoption of renewable energy by turning off lights for one hour. Iconic landmarks, businesses, and households across various continents took part in this environmental initiative organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

In the UK, notable landmarks including Buckingham Palace in London and the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, which lit up in green before participating, observed the event. Other significant locations in London like the Barbican Arts Centre, the Old Bailey, Tower Bridge, and the OXO Tower also joined in from 20:30 to 21:30.

Internationally famous landmarks participated as well, with the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, the Acropolis hill in Athens, the Azadi Tower in Tehran, the Sudirman central business district in Jakarta, and the Phoenix Centre in Beijing switching off their lights. In Asia, Tokyo Tower, Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, Namsan Tower in Seoul, Turtle Tower in Hanoi, the Grand Palace in Bangkok, and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station dimmed their lights in solidarity.

Sydney, Australia, where the initiative saw its inception in 2007, led the charge again with the Sydney Opera House and the Council Chambers participating. The event started in Sydney at 20:30 local time, marking a symbolic moment of reflection on energy use and its environmental impacts.

Earth Hour’s global observance not only signifies a moment of collective action against climate change but also reminds individuals, businesses, and governments of their shared responsibility in preserving the environment. The WWF has also encouraged the use of this hour to engage in activities promoting environmental sustainability, such as signing petitions or supporting wildlife conservation efforts. This initiative is part of the broader effort to combat biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, with the WWF releasing a manifesto in 2024 calling for urgent political action on these issues. The UK government’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 aligns with these objectives.

Through the simple act of turning off lights for one hour, Earth Hour continues to unite people worldwide in the fight against the climate crisis, contributing to a sustainable future.