Sydney will go dark for the environment this Saturday
What is going to happen?
Lights and other electrical devices will be switched off for an hour as part of a campaign called Earth Hour.
Where will the event take place?
The event will take place in Sydney, Australia's largest city, and surrounding areas.
When will the event happen?
Earth Hour will be held from 7.30pm to 8.30pm on Saturday, March 31. Schools in New South Wales have been encouraged to switch off lights and appliances during morning and lunch breaks on the day before.
Who will participate?
Hundreds of businesses, thousands of residents and government departments, including The City of Sydney council and the New South Wales State government, have pledged to switch off the lights and darken Sydney.
Why has this event been organised?
Every weekday, millions of lights and computer screens are left on in empty offices across Sydney. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), this generates millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Australia is a major consumer of carbon-emitting coal and one of the world's largest per capita producers of greenhouse gas. This event will provide an opportunity for people to do something about climate change.
Organisers say the event is the first step towards cutting Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent a year.
How was this event organised?
Earth Hour was partly organised by WWF. Individuals, government departments and businesses were encouraged to register their support online. More than 30,000 people have already registered.
