The 20th edition of Earth Hour has commenced in New Zealand and is set to gradually progress around the globe. This event aims to raise awareness about climate change through symbolic actions.

On Saturday, lights were extinguished at landmarks across New Zealand as Earth Hour began. Originating in Australia in 2006, the initiative encourages nations to turn off their lights for an hour in the evening to draw attention to the pressing issue of climate change.

Among the first monuments to go dark at 8:30 p.m. local time were the Sky Tower in Auckland and New Zealand's parliament building in Wellington. Other iconic sites scheduled to participate include the Sydney Opera House, Germany's Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, and the Empire State Building in New York.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), which organizes Earth Hour, reported that over 3 million hours were pledged across 118 countries and territories last year. The organization asserts that the event remains just as relevant two decades after its inception.

Viviane Raddatz, head of climate at WWF Germany, stated that the climate crisis is often pushed into the background amid numerous global challenges, but it does not disappear; instead, it exacerbates many of these crises. She emphasized that Earth Hour brings climate action back into the public spotlight, making it visible, and that this issue deserves a top position on the political agenda.

Source: www.dw.com