Lights go out for Earth Hour

Climate change: Landmarks around the world shrouded in darkness

Landmark structures throughout the north and north-east joined worldrenowned buildings such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and New York’s Empire State Building in plunging into darkness at the weekend.

The area was taking part in EarthHour on Saturday, when organisations switched off the lights at iconic buildings for an hour to emphasise their commitment to tackling climate change.

In Aberdeen lights were turned off at Marischal College, the Wallace Monart

“To demonstrate in a simple way that we care about our planet”

ument and gardens, and the St Nicholas Kirkyard. Aberdeenshire Council HQ atWoodhillHouse, Gordon House in Inverurie and Buchan House in Peterhead all took part. St Giles’ Church in Elgin, Sueno’s Stone near Forres and the Landshut Bridge in Elgin were some of the Moray landmarks taking part.

In Inverness, the castle, the cathedral and the Ness Bridge were blacked out.

In the Highlands, the Spey Bridge in Grantown, Urquhart Castle, Eilean Donan Castle, Carrbridge packhorse bridge and Ruthven Barracks also turned off their lights. Stu- Black, Highland Council’s director of development and infrastructure, said: “It’s important to be able to show that by working together, we canmake a difference and help protect our planet.”

Lang Banks, WWF Scotland director, said: “Earth Hour is an opportunity for us all to demonstrate in a simple way that we care about our planet and the impact climate change is having on people and nature across the world.”

BLACKED OUT: The main tower and part of the perimeter wall at Urquhart Castle, near Loch Ness, lit up only by starlight for Earth Hour

Tower Bridge in the centre of London before, top, and after the lights were switched off for an hour