60 Minutes of Lights Out for Earth: New Zealand chimed in “Earth Hour 2024” on Saturday evening at 8:30pm (local time). Other countries in Oceania and the Asia-Pacific region must gradually follow suit before Europe finally takes its turn. Launched by WWF Australia in 2007, the Global Climate and Environment Campaign aims to be a visible symbol of the need for humanity to take better care of its planet and protect the climate.
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Not only are citizens around the world turning off their lights for an hour, iconic buildings are also no longer lit for 60 minutes. At the same time, people should also take action for the environment themselves: Every individual can make a difference by devoting 60 minutes of their time to Earth and spending it doing something positive for the planet, WWF said. Examples given included reconnecting with nature on a trip, cooking healthy, climate-friendly food, shopping without plastic, or planting a tree.
“It is essential to participate if we are to raise awareness of environmental challenges and reverse the curve of biodiversity loss by 2030,” said Director-General Christine Schuette, urging people around the world to participate in large numbers. WWF Australia writes that Earth Hour is now about much more than just turning off the lights.
In New Zealand, darkness covered the Sky Tower, the observation and communications tower, the Harbor Bridge in Auckland, as well as the Parliament Building in the capital, Wellington. The world-famous Opera House and Harbor Bridge in Sydney, Australia, and the iconic Arts Center in Melbourne are set to follow.
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In Singapore, the skyscrapers surrounding Marina Bay and Orchard Road, one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, were on the list of participants. The Thai capital, Bangkok, wanted to turn off the lights at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) and the Grand Palace.
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