WATCH: Lights being switched off across the globe for Earth Hour

THIS year marks the tenth anniversary of the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour, the largest grassroots environmental event on the planet.

At 8.30pm this evening, hundreds of millions of people in over 170 countries around the globe will switch off their lights for one hour to demonstrate that they want to protect Earth and raise awareness of climate change.

In London, Big Ben, Harrods, the BT Tower and the Gherkin are among the many famous buildings taking part, while the Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, Bangkok Grand Palace and other international landmarks will also be plunged into darkness.

In Spain, more than 350 municipalities, 200 organisations and 150 big companies have signed up, with events being organised in Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga, Marmolejo (Jaén), Villablino (León), Zaragoza, La Laguna (Tenerife), Guadalajara, and Madrid.

Earth Hour is not about saving energy during the blackout hour, rather aiming to draw attention to issues that are largely ignored by many media outlets, while inspiring people to live more sustainably.

“We started Earth Hour in 2007 to show leaders that climate change was an issue people cared about,” says Siddarth Das, Executive Director, Earth Hour Global.

“For that symbolic moment to turn into the global movement it is today, is really humbling and speaks volumes about the powerful role of people in issues that affect their lives.”

The WWF says that participants can do whatever they wish provided the lights are out, and has even compiled a list of 60 things to do in the dark.

If taking part, you can register on the official website, and check out what’s happening around the world via interactive maps.