SYDNEY – Cities on Australia’s east coast were among the
first in the world to turn lights out on for the 10th annual Earth Hour, a
global lights out event designed to highlight the threat from climate change.

The Sydney Opera House, normally brightly lit, switched
off its lights at 8:30 pm along with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and dozens more
buildings across the city and Australia.

More than 350 landmark buildings across the world
including the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building and Taipei 101 will
follow suit.

This year’s theme is a celebration of “Places We
Love,” such as beaches, forests, reefs, snow-capped mountains and rivers
which could be at risk from climate change.

Organisers hope this year’s Earth Hour can tap a “new
momentum” in climate action following world leaders’ Paris agreement in
December. That agreement set a course for global carbon emissions reduction to
a net zero by 2100, shifting from fossil fuels in favour of greener energies
such as solar and wind power.

Average global temperatures last month were 1.35 degree
Celsius above normal for February, the biggest temperature excess recorded for
any month against a baseline of 1951-80, according to NASA data released last
weekend.

Earth Hour Global executive director Siddarth Das, said in
a statement that the world is at a “climate crossroads”.

“From living rooms to classrooms and conference
rooms, people are demanding climate action,” he said.

“Earth Hour reminds us that while people are on the
frontlines of climate change, they are also our first line of defence. Our
actions today, as individuals and the global community, have the power to
transform what the world will look like for generations to come.”

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007 as an initiative of
conservation group WWF and went global in 2008, attracting 50 million people,
organisers say.

This year organisers say events will be held in 178
countries and territories.

– Reuters