The statue of Christ the Redeemer is seen after being plunged into darkness for the Earth Hour environmental campaign on top of Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 26, 2022. (Photo by MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP)
Countries around the world cut the lights and went dark for an hour on March 26, 2022, to participate in the environmental event ‘Earth Hour.’
From 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. countries participating in Earth Hour turned off electricity for some sources of major power consumption like lit national monuments, and everyday people made an effort to turn off the lights and power in their own homes.
Earth Hour began in 2007 as a symbolic event in Sydney, Australia, to raise awareness around climate change. According to the Earth Hour website, approximately 2.2 million people participated and turned their lights off for an hour on the first ever Earth Hour.
In the years following, people outside of Australia started to join in the movement and governments began to officially participate by cutting the lights to major landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Colosseum and the Eiffel Tower.
Earth Hour’s website reports that as of 2022 over 190 countries and territories participate in the annual Earth Hour event.
A general view of the city skyline is seen with the lights switched off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Singapore on March 26, 2022. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)
The landmark Tokyo Tower is seen with its lights off during Earth Hour in Tokyo on March 26, 2022. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
Aerial view of the Colpatria building with the lights on before the Earth Hour in Bogota, on March 27, 2021. Cities around the world were turning off their lights Saturday for Earth Hour, with this year's event highlighting the link between the destruction of nature and increasing outbreaks of diseases like Covid-19. / AFP / STAFF / RAUL ARBOLEDA
A picture taken on March 27, 2021 in central London shows London landmark The London Eye submerged into darkness for the Earth Hour environmental campaign. Cities around the world were turning off their lights Saturday for Earth Hour, with this year's event highlighting the link between the destruction of nature and increasing outbreaks of diseases like Covid-19. / AFP / JUSTIN TALLIS
This picture taken on March 27, 2021, shows the Eiffel Tower in Paris after it was switched off as part of the Earth Hour environmental campaign. / AFP / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN
A general view shows the Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur after the lights had been switched off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign on March 26, 2022. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP)
