ASIA PACIFIC (dpa): Monuments and buildings across New Zealand went dark on Saturday as the country kicked off the worldwide Earth Hour event.
The global movement encourages nations to switch off their lights for an hour to bring attention to the issues of nature loss and climate change.
Auckland monuments including the Sky Tower and Harbour Bridge and Wellington's parliament buildings went dark at 8:30 pm (0730 GMT).
Later on Saturday, other monuments across the globe, including the Sydney Opera House, the London Eye, and Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, will switch off their lights in solidarity.
The Earth Hour initiative began in 2007 in Australia and has seen entire streets, buildings, landmarks and city skylines go dark.
Supporters are also invited to "give an hour for Earth" by spending 60 minutes doing something positive for the planet.
In 2024, more than 1.5 million hours were pledged.
WWF International director general Kirsten Schuijt said Earth Hour was a reminder of the urgency to act.
"The stakes have never been higher. The past year was the hottest on record - capping off the hottest decade, with the hottest seas ever recorded. We’ve witnessed historic wildfires, storms, and droughts as well," she said.
"Our world is in peril and we are rapidly approaching dangerous climate tipping points beyond which key ecosystems may never be able to recover." - dpa
