Earth Hour is being observed today across the globe to create awareness about climate change and to encourage support for environmentally sustainable action. The global initiative by World Wildlife Fund encourages people around the world to switch off lights on saturday for an hour beginning at 8.30 pm in each time zone.

AIR correspondent reports that the Earth Hour movement started in Sydney in 2007 has grown in subsequent years. According to Earth Hour's website, a record 147 countries and territories are preparing to take part in the event.
This year the sixth edition of Earth Hour will see six cities in India to compete for the title of the Earth Hour 2012 championship city. The award will be given on the basis of people's participation and electricity saved during the one hour.

A candle light march will mark the event in the national capital where NCC cadets will form 60+, the symbol for Earth Hour, in front of Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. Besides, Earth Hour vigils will take place in colonies where children will lead the symbolic fight to save the planet.

Under the Roshini Programme to reduce consumption of electricity in the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Earth Hour will also be observed by switching off all non-esential lights.

Sydney’s iconic Harbor Bridge and Opera House went dark this evening as Australians switched off lights around the country for an hour as part of a global effort to shine a spotlight on climate change. Hundreds of landmarks around the world including Washington’s National Cathedral, London’s Clock Tower, the Great Wall of China and Tokyo Tower will be dimmed at 8:30 p.m. local time. Central Sydney icons have been taking part in the annual event since Earth Hour began as a Sydney-only event in 2007. Australia is among the first countries to hit the light switches each year.

In New Zealand, Sky Tower in Auckland and parliament buildings in Wellington switched off two hours earlier.
WWF, the Washington-based environmental group that organizes the event, said the number of countries and territories participating had grown from 135 last year to 147 this year. The Group's official Dermot O’Gorman said " Earth Hour 2012" is a celebration of people power; the world’s largest mass event in support of the planet

Libya, Algeria, Bhutan and French Guinea are among those participating for the first time.