Millions across the globe switched off their lights on Saturday night in observance of "Earth Hour", an annual event to highlight the global threat from climate change. 
From Sydney's Opera House to New York's Empire State Building and Paris's Eiffel tower, landmarks worldwide dimmed their lights for the 10th edition of the Earth Hour campaign. 
The annual event kicked off in Sydney, where the Earth Hour idea originated in 2007. 
Earth Hour's global executive director Siddarth Das said organizers were excited about how much the movement had grown since it began nine years ago. 
"From one city it has now grown to over 178 countries and territories and over 7,000 cities, so we couldn't be happier about how millions of people across the world are coming together for climate action," he said from Singapore ahead of the lights out. 
Over 150 buildings in Singapore dimmed their lights, while Taipei's 101 skyscraper gradually turned lights off for one hour and the city's four historical gates and bridges also went dark. 
The lights also dimmed across Hong Kong's usually glittering skyline, although online commentators pointed out that China's People's Liberation Army garrison headquarters on the harbor front kept the lights blazing. 
After Asia, Earth Hour shifted to Europe where St Peter's Basilica, Rome's Trevi Fountain and the Parthenon temple in Athens were among a slew of iconic sites to go off-grid. 
In London, the lights were shut off at the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and Harrods department store. 
In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was plunged into darkness, as was the Kremlin in Moscow. When New York's Empire State Building went dark, one New Yorker joked on Twitter "I was wondering why my skyline is black." In New York, the United Nations headquarters dimmed the lights for an hour. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a video message that this year's Earth Hour comes at a pivotal moment. 
"This is a historic achievement for people and the planet, but only if we follow through on the promises made," he added. 
In his message, the UN chief said "together, people can create the low-emissions future the world needs for sustainable development and a life of dignity and stability for all. "Earth Hour reminds us that we all have a role to play," he affirmed. 
The global initiative, organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), aims to unite individuals, companies, organizations and governments around the world in turning off their lights for one hour to focus attention on solutions for protecting the planet and building a sustainable future. 
This year's theme celebrates "Places We Love" the mountains, rivers, beaches, reefs, forests and national parks that organizers say are in peril from climate change.

Source : QNA