Countries around the world are preparing to power down for tomorrow’s Earth Hour, as part of a global project to raise awareness about climate change.

Iconic buildings in major cities will be plunged into darkness at 8.30pm local time to highlight the link between needless electrical wastage and the growing threat of global warming. Householders and businesses are also encouraged to switch off their appliances during the hour.

The initiative is organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature, or WWF. 126 countries participated in the event last year – landmarks including Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Parthenon and the Empire State Building all joined in the switch-off. Demand for electricity fell by 500,000 kWh in Vietnam during the hour.

Earth Hour 2011 looks set to be just as successful. Some TV stations are to cease broadcasting in the Philippines and Brazil intends to break its own participation records for its “Hora do Planeta”. Events nicknamed “Party in the Dark” are planned for Brazil and throughout the world.

"It's been a bad start to the year, and I guess it's an opportunity to take a moment and think about that,” said Earth Hour founder Andy Ridley. “"It's meant to be a celebration - it's a bit different this year because of the Japan stuff - but it's meant to be about hope and the future."

Earth Hour comes less than a month before Earth Day, on the 22nd of April. The day coincides with Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

Reported by Mike Jordison.

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