Some of the world 's most famous landmarks and monuments were plunged into darkness this evening to raise awareness of climate change . Big Ben and the London Eye switched off their lights for Earth Hour , joining the Eiffel Tower , Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and St Basil 's Cathedral in Moscow . The annual event , organised by conservation organisation WWF , saw more than 700 iconic landmarks worldwide go dark at 8.30pm local time , as millions of homes turned off their power . Scroll down for video . Big Ben switched off its lights for an hour from 8.30pm to mark Earth Hour , an annual event to highlight the effects of climate change . The South Bank was plunged into darkness as Earth Hour started , with the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament turning off the lights . Haunting : Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament blended into the night sky shortly after 8.30pm when the lights were switched off . The Eiffel Tower in Paris was among more than 700 iconic landmarks and monuments worldwide which switched off their lights for Earth Hour . Brandenburg Gate in Berlin also switched off its lights as hundreds gathered in the German capital for the annual event . St Basil 's Cathedral also went dark for an hour , starting at 8.30pm local time , to raise awareness about climate change . The annual event started in Asia and Oceania , where Sydney Harbour Bridge descended into darkness as the Australian flag flew above it . Earth Hour started in Samoa and will finish in Tahiti , sweeping through 24 time zones and six continents as some of the most recognisable buildings in the world turned out the lights . The Palace of Westminster , Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and even Blackpool Tower were among those switching off , as well as more than 30 Unesco World Heritage sites . Earth Hour was launched in 2007 in Australia and has spread globally since . Last year nine million people in the UK took part , lighting candles in their homes as they switched off lights in their homes , as part of a record-breaking chain of 162 countries . Yesterday Prince Charles appeared in a video message , alongside a photograph of him and his grandson Prince George , calling on Britain to do more to protect our planet for future generations . The Forth Bridge joined the hundreds of landmarks taking place worldwide as it also turned off its lights to mark Earth Hour . Thousands gathered in Quezon City , north of Manila in the Philippines , to take part in a mass zumba as the lights were turned off there . The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , also switched off its lights as part of the event , which saw more than 30 Unesco World Heritage Sites go dark�� . The bright lights of Leifeng Pagoda are seen behind the West Lake before Earth Hour in Hangzhou , Zhejiang province , eastern China . The tower suddenly darkened as Earth Hour swept across China as it made its way across 24 different time zones . The lights were switched off on the Old Bridge in Mostar , southern Bosnia , creating a serene view from this hill next to the river running through the city . The 101 building in Taipei also switched off its lights to mark the annual event , which is marked by conservation organisation WWF . The business district in Jakarta , Indonesia , also darkened as more than 700 landmarks worldwide took part in Earth Hour . He said : 'Switching off the lights for Earth Hour is a statement of intent by everyone who takes part , making them part of a community which recognises that we really do have one planet and that we have it not just for ourselves but also for our children and grandchildren . 'It is a symbolic and powerful reminder that together we have the power to change things . It should also remind us that we do not have much time in which to make those changes . If everyone in the world consumed natural resources at the rate we do in the United Kingdom we would need three planets and not just one to support us . ' 'The impacts - not least climate change , deforestation , overfishing , and the loss of numerous species for whom this planet should also be there - are already starting to affect us all . 'WWF works hard to address many of the environmental issues we face on our planet but Earth Hour is a chance for everyone to show that they care and are willing to do their bit to help because collective action has never been more vital . Last year over nine million people took part in Earth Hour in the UK . ' 'They joined more than 1,000 businesses and organisations as well as the 4,600 schools which participated alongside some of the country 's best known landmarks including Buckingham Palace , Edinburgh Castle , Tower Bridge , the Senedd , and Wembley Stadium . '
Some of Britain 's most iconic landmarks were plunged into darkness to raise awareness of climate change . Lights at Old Trafford , Buckingham Palace , Tower Bridge and Big Ben switched off for Earth Hour at 8.30pm . 700 monuments worldwide went dark , including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin .