Lights have been turned off across Australia's largest city, Sydney, in a mass event aimed at raising awareness of global warming.
Lights have been turned off across Australia's largest city, Sydney, in a hour-long event aimed at raising awareness of global warming.
At 1930 local time (0930 GMT) lights went out in office blocks and homes as well as city landmarks like the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
At 1930 (0930 GMT) the city's skyline dimmed and normally bright landmarks like the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge went dark.
The so-called Earth Hour is supported by the New South Wales government, environmental groups and businesses.
The so-called Earth Hour is supported by the New South Wales government, environmental groups and businesses.
Sydney hopes the event will make a very big statement on climate change.
Sydney hopes the event will make a very big statement on climate change.
The city of four million people is aiming to become the first anywhere to achieve a blackout on this scale.
The city of four million people is aiming to become the first anywhere to achieve a blackout on this scale.
Co-operation
Co-operation
Many restaurants signed up and planned to serve diners by candlelight.
One of the driving forces behind Earth Hour is the WWF environmental organisation. Its chief executive in Australia is Greg Bourne, who says the big switch off has taken months to plan.
One of the driving forces behind Earth Hour is the WWF environmental organisation. Its chief executive in Australia is Greg Bourne, who says the big switch off has taken months to plan.
"The logistics is really quite amazing in the sense every tower block is owned by one company, maybe leased by another company, have 10 tenants in and a manager and working through all of these people has been fantastic.
"The logistics is really quite amazing in the sense every tower block is owned by one company, maybe leased by another company, have 10 tenants in and a manager and working through all of these people has been fantastic."
Many restaurants signed up and planned to serve diners by candlelight.
The owner of the Newtown Hotel, which says it is Australia's oldest gay bar, told the BBC before the blackout that they would have fun while trying to send a serious message.
"Sometimes drag queens [female impersonators] do look better in the dark anyway," said Roger Zee.
"It's up to the patrons. They'll actually have their own torches so they'll be able to light up the drag queens on the stage themselves."
Organisers want to encourage Australians to conserve energy and to think carefully about what they can do to cut pollution.
Organisers want to encourage Australians to conserve energy and to think carefully about what they can do to cut pollution.
Every day millions of lights and computers are left on in deserted office blocks as well as in apartments and houses.
Every day millions of lights and computers are left on in deserted office blocks as well as in apartments and houses.
Campaigners have said that simply switching them off could reduce Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions by 5% over the next year.
Campaigners have said that simply switching them off could reduce Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions by 5% over the next year.
Australia is one of the world's largest per capita producers of carbon dioxide and other gases that many scientists believe are helping to warm the earth's atmosphere.
Australia is one of the world's largest per capita producers of carbon dioxide and other gases that many scientists believe are helping to warm the earth's atmosphere.
Are you in Sydney and taking part in the event? Send us your comments and photos using the forms below:
Are you in Sydney and taking part in the event? Send us your comments and photos using the forms below:
