In photos: Lights out as millions around the world mark Earth Hour

The Empire State Building dimmed its lights and the Eiffel Tower went dark Saturday as iconic landmarks across the world observed Earth Hour, the global climate change awareness campaign.

The usually glittering nighttime majesty of the Empire State Building was set to “faint sparkle” in New York, while theaters on Broadway also toned down the neon.

Millions of people around the world were taking part in the annual Earth Hour organized by conservation group WWF, with a string of well-known sights plunging into darkness globally.

Take a look at how different countries all over the world participated in this year’s Earth Hour:

 COLOMBIA

People light candles during Earth Hour environment campaign at the Jardin Plaza mall in Cali, Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, on March 28, 2015. Millions are expected to take part around the world in the annual event organised by conservation group WWF, with hundreds of well-known sights set to plunge into darkness. AFP

VATICAN CITY

Activists of World Wide Fund (WWF) have set up pandas near St Peter’s square as part of the Earth Hour campaign on March 29, 2014 at the Vatican. Lights went off in thousands of cities and towns across the world on today for the annual Earth Hour campaign, which is aiming to raise money via the Internet for local environmental projects. AFP

PORTUGAL

A boy with his face decorated with luminous ink poses for a photograph with others during the symbolic switching off of the lights known as Earth Hour, Saturday, March 28, 2015, in Lisbon, Portugal. At 8:30 p.m. local time, individuals, businesses, cities and landmarks around the world switched off their lights for one hour to focus attention on climate change. AP

NEW YORK CITY

The Empire State Building moments before going dark for Earth Hour March 29, 2014 – in which citizens are asked to turn off their lights for an hour from 8.30 to 9.30 pm local time to show awareness of climate change . It kicks off in Sydney and moves westwards around the globe. AFP

FRANCE

In this two photo combination picture, the Eiffel Tower with its usual lighting at left, and after the lighting was switched off at right, at the occasion of the Earth Hour, in Paris, France, Saturday March 28, 2015. This Saturday, 28 March 8:30 p.m. local time, individuals, businesses, cities and landmarks around the world are switching off their lights for one hour to focus attention on climate change. AP

PHILIPPINES

Performers wearing luminous costumes entertain the crowd during the symbolic switching off of the lights known as Earth Hour Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. Earth Hour, participated in by more than 7,000 cities and townships worldwide, urges households and citizens to switch off their electricity for one hour to help reduce Carbon emissions to help save planet Earth. AP

RUSSIA

People walk past St. Basil’s Cathedral with its lights off as part of the Earth Hour environmental campaign in central Moscow on March 28, 2015. AFP

AUSTRALIA

Fireworks go off at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House to signal the start of the Earth Hour environmental campaign, among the first landmarks around the world to dim their lights for the event on March 28, 2015. Lights will go out in some 7,000 cities and towns from New York to New Zealand for Earth Hour to raise awareness of the need for sustainable energy use, and this year also to demand action to halt planet-harming climate change. AFP

TUNISIA

Tunisians light air balloons during the Earth Hour on March 29, 2014 at the Roman amphitheater of Carthage on the outskirts of Tunis. Thousands of cities around the world turned off lights Saturday emblematic buildings during the “Earth Hour”, a global event to warn of the dangers of climate change. The campaign, which is to turn off the lights for one hour starting at 20:30 local time, was intended to raise funds for projects of environmental protection this year. AFP

KUWAIT

Employees of the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel pose behind candles during the Earth Hour on March 28, 2015 in Kuwait city. Thousands of cities around the world turned off lights emblematic buildings during the “Earth Hour”, a global event to warn of the dangers of climate change. AFP

INDONESIA

Indonesian activists hold candles during a candle light vigil marking Earth Hour, in the main business district in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday , March 28, 2015. AP

GREECE

This picture shows the ancient Temple of Parthenon atop Acropolis hill in partial darkness during the Earth Hour initiative in Athens on March 28, 2015. Millions are expected to take part around the world in the annual event organised by conservation group WWF, with hundreds of well-known sights set to plunge into darkness. AFP

MALAYSIA

A general view shows the Malaysia’s landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur after the lights had been switched off for earth hour on March 28, 2015. Lights will go out in some 7,000 cities and towns from New York to New Zealand for Earth Hour to raise awareness of the need for sustainable energy use, and this year also to demand action to halt planet-harming climate change. AFP

SOUTH KOREA

A general view shows the Seoul city skyline and the landmark Namsan tower (R) during ‘Earth Hour’ on March 28, 2015. Lights will go out in some 7,000 cities and towns from New York to New Zealand for Earth Hour to raise awareness of the need for sustainable energy use, and this year also to demand action to halt planet-harming climate change. AFP

SPAIN

The New Bridge of Ronda is enlightened from behind during the global climate change awareness campaign “Earth Hour”, on March 28, 2015. Millions are expected to take part around the world in the annual event organised by environment conservation group WWF, with hundreds of well-known sights including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Seattle Space Needle set to plunge into darkness for an hour to highlight the plight of the planet. AFP

INDIA

The Indian Presidential Palace stands in darkness after lights were turned out for one hour to mark Earth Hour in New Delhi, India, Saturday, March 28, 2015. Earth Hour was marked worldwide at 8.30 p.m. local time and is a global call to turn off lights for 60 minutes in a bid to highlight the global climate change. AP

UNITED KINGDOM

A picture taken on March 28, 2015 in central London shows The London Eye in central London illuminated ahead of Earth Hour campaign. Millions are expected to take part around the world in the annual event organised by conservation group WWF, with hundreds of well-known sights set to plunge into darkness. AFP

THAILAND

Temple of Dawn is seen moments after its lights are turned off for Earth Hour 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand , Saturday, March 28, 2015. Around the world, people and organisations will be turning their lights off from 8:30 to 9:30 pm local time. AP

TAIWAN

The Taipei 101 Building is seen darkened during the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2015. Organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature, Earth Hour is observed every year to create awareness about conservation of energy and climate change. Around the world, people and organisations will be turning their lights off from 8:30 to 9:30 pm local time. AP

MACEDONIA

Activists of the Red Cross light candles to form the number “60” during “Earth Hour” in Skopje’s main square on March 28, 2015. Thousands of cities around the world turned off lights on emblematic buildings during the “Earth Hour”, a global event to warn of the dangers of climate change. AFP

JAPAN

Eriko Ukimura plays the violin during the “Earth Hour” in Tokyo Saturday, March 28, 2015. The light at a Tokyo hotel lobby was turned off momentarily on Saturday as part of global campaign to raise awareness on environmental issues. AP

GERMANY

Candles in paper bags are placed to form the lettering “Save our climate, Now” in front of the Brandenburger Gate in Berlin during the the global climate change awareness campaign “Earth Hour” on March 28, 2015. Millions are expected to take part around the world in the annual event organised by environment conservation group WWF, with hundreds of well-known sights including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Seattle Space Needle set to plunge into darkness for an hour to highlight the plight of the planet. AFP

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