Earth Hour 2018

Once again, the lights on the dome of St Peter's Basilica will go dark on Saturday evening, 24 March, along with those that illuminate Bernini's colonnade surrounding St Peter's Square. From 8.30 to 9.30pm local time, the lights will remain dark for Earth Hour.

Elsewhere, the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace and Edinburgh Castle, offices, buildings and homes in cities, towns and communities around the world will switch out their lights and come together for an hour, to join a global show of support for action on climate.

The annual initiative, which began in 2007, promoted by the World Wildlife Fund International, conveys a message that was amplified by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si' - we need to adopt more environmentally sound practices to protect the future of the planet.

In Scotland and Wales, more than 120 churches and iconic landmarks will be taking part. In England, Westminster Abbey, Durham Cathedral, Old Trafford, Canterbury Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Tewkesbury Abbey, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, The Gherkin, Piccadilly Circus, Harrods and the Ritz are among those joining the blackout for 60 minutes in support of the Earth Hour campaign.

Many people will also be simply switching off their lights at home at 8.30pm on Saturday.

If you would like to sign up visit: www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour

For more information and resources, and to watch Earth Hour unfold around the world, visit: www.earthhour.org/earth-hour-live

Watch a short film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4aGlslJM0