Earth Hour: See people and cities across the world taking part, from Australia to the UAE

From the UAE to the US, individuals and businesses switched off their lights for the annual environmental awareness campaign

The Philippines: A volunteer arranges lit candles to read 'Fight Covid-19' during Earth Hour near a Catholic church in Borongan City, Eastern Samar province in 2020. AFP

Australia: Before and after the lights were turned off for Earth Hour at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. AFP

China: A view of the National Stadium (Bird's Nest) with lights off during Earth Hour in Beijing. EPA

Hong Kong: Before and after the lights were turned off. EPA

Malaysia: The Petronas Twin Towers, left, and Kuala Lumpur Tower, right, stand illuminated before their lights are turned off to mark Earth Hour. AFP

Taiwan: The Taipei 101 Skyscraper is lit up shortly before Earth Hour in Taipei. EPA

Thailand: The skyline of Bangkok is seen after some of its lights are turned off to mark Earth Hour. AFP

Indonesia: Before and during Earth Hour in Jakarta. AFP

Japan: Before and after lights were turned off at Tokyo Tower. AFP

Hungary: These photos show the 'Chain Bridge' in Budapest, illuminated by white lights to honour the efforts of healthcare staff against Covid-19, before and after the city lights were switched off to mark Earth Hour. AFP

Belarus: Shots of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus with lights on and off in Minsk. EPA

Russia: Moscow's Kremlin with the lights switched on and off to mark Earth Hour. EPA

Austria: The Schoenbrunn Palace with its illumination lights switched on and off. EPA

Switzerland: Lausanne's Cathedral is pictured with lights switched off during Earth Hour. EPA

Poland: The illumination of the Philharmonic M Karlowicz symbolically dimming down, in Szczecin. EPA

Serbia: Belgrade's Saint Sava Temple with lights switched off. EPA

Serbia: Two views of Belgrade's Ada Bridge with its illumination lights switched on and off. EPA

Germany: Brandenburg Gate before and after turning off its illumination lights to mark Earth Hour in Berlin. EPA

America: Boston's city skyline remains lit during the Earth Hour event in Boston as seen from Cambridge, Massachusetts. EPA

Every year, millions of people across the world switch off their lights for one hour on March 28. The campaign is called Earth Hour and it aims to call attention to climate change, global warming and the loss of biodiversity. This year was no different.

Organised by the World Wildlife Fund, it first started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 and has since expanded to nearly 200 countries and territories, becoming a global solidarity movement in which people and businesses switch off unnecessary lights and electronic items for one hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, UAE time.

Take a look through the gallery above to see photos of landmarks across the globe going dark last night.

Individuals and companies across the UAE joined in, too. ''The UAE Energy Plan 2050 aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 70 per cent, increase clean energy use by 50 per cent and improve energy efficiency by 40 per cent,'' said Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, as he urged people to participate.

Flick through the gallery below to see photos of people in the UAE taking part:

A family in Dubai playing with their pet during Earth Hour 2020. Ruel Pableo for The National

Abu Dhabi residents prepare for Earth Hour in Khalifa City. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi residents take part in Earth Hour 2020. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi residents preparing for Earth Hour. Victor Besa / The National

Getting ready for Earth Hour in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Abu Dhabi residents prepare for Earth Hour in Khalifa City. Victor Besa / The National

This year, as a big portion of the world's population is being asked to stay at home amid the coronavirus outbreak, Earth Hour organisers asked people to get creative and fill the internet with "positive and uplifting images".

They then shared the world's highlights – which includes a shot of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – on their Twitter account after the hour was up:

Watch the moment Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque goes dark here:

Even Toronto Zoo's gorillas joined in yesterday:

Apartments in buildings across Dubai went dark:

As did UAE embassies across the world, including in Latvia:

People switched off their lights and lit candles instead:

One UAE resident even sang a "declaration of hope" via Instagram:

Sudhanshu Sarronwala of WWF International also shared his thoughts from a locked-down apartment in Switzerland.

"Earth Hour is about people. It’s about people coming together to signal their solidarity for a cause. To signal that we’re in this together. Whether it be for addressing climate change, reversing biodiversity loss or tackling, with the rest of the world, the onset of a pandemic we could not imagine."

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Read more:

What is Earth Hour? Why the UAE will be going dark on Saturday

Coronavirus: emissions fall shows what can be achieved on climate change, experts say

Dr Jane Goodall on Trump, being misquoted at Davos and why death is her 'next big adventure'

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