Lights dimmed worldwide as Earth Hour calls for climate action

Landmarks across the globe, including Helsinki Central Railway Station, switched off their lights for one hour on Saturday evening as part of the annual Earth Hour campaign, Yle reports.

The global event, organised by environmental group WWF, encourages individuals, businesses, and governments to turn off non-essential lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm local time as a symbolic gesture for climate and nature protection. According to WWF, the act is not primarily about saving electricity but sending a message to decision-makers.

This year marks the 16th time Finland has participated in Earth Hour, with an estimated 1.5 million Finns taking part annually. Worldwide, the event—launched in Sydney in 2007 when two million people switched off their lights—has grown into the planet’s largest environmental movement.

Landmarks such as Indonesia’s Banda Aceh, where candles were lit, India’s National War Memorial in New Delhi, and Hong Kong’s skyscrapers joined the initiative by dimming their lights.