Lights will dim across the country this Saturday night as part of the annual Earth Hour.
Organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour is billed as a chance for people across the globe to unite in switching off their lights for one hour.
It began two years ago in Sydney when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour.
This year, organisers hope as many as one billion individuals and businesses will participate and are billing the act of turning off the lights as a vote against global warming.
"Earth hour is a way for the citizens of the world to send a clear message they want action on climate change," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in an address posted on YouTube.
"It promises to be the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted."
If the target of more than one billion participants is reached on Saturday, organisers plan to present the "votes" to the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year.
"We are on a dangerous path, our planet is warming. We must change our ways," Ban said.
"I urge citizens everywhere to join us... together we can find a solution to this most serious of global challenges."
Last year, many famous landmarks "powered down" for Earth Hour, including Rome's Colosseum and San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge.
The Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and the Acropolis in Athens will be plunged into darkness this Saturday night and Ban said the UN's New York headquarters and other UN buildings would also switch off their lights.
Earth Hour 2009:
When: Saturday, March 28
What: Individuals and businesses are being asked to switch off their lights between 8.30pm and 9.30pm in their local time zones.
Why: As a demonstration of public concern about climate change.
Official website: earthhour.org
Related web links:
Earth Hour: Making a difference? - CBC News
Facing the climate challenge - Sydney Morning Herald
This 'Earth Hour,' leave the lights on - National Post
10 ways to spend Earth Hour
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Earth Hour:
- NZ HERALD STAFF
