The Eiffel Tower submerges into darkness as part of the Earth Hour switch-off in Paris, France, on Saturday. Photo: Pierre Suu/Getty Images
Cities around the world were turning landmark lights off Saturday for Earth Hour, with this year's theme highlighting the link between the destruction of nature and increasing outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19.
The big picture: City landmarks around the world went dark for an hour at 8:30p.m. to mark global action on climate change. Organizer WWF said in a statement, "COVID-19 has given us a stark warning of the risks, vulnerabilities and inequalities of our interconnected systems."
The Palace of Westminster, containing the House of Commons and House of Lords, takes part in Earth Hour in London, England. UN chief António Guterres in a statement called 2021 a "make-or-break year" for the climate, saying: "It’s time to re-evaluate and reset our relationship with nature." Photo: Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty ImagesThe India Gate in New Delhi, India. Photo: Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Xi'an Bell Tower's lights are turned off in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. Photo: Shang Hongtao/VCG via Getty ImagesA view of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, with the lights off. Photo: Baris Seckin/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesThe Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are plunged into darkness in Australia. Photo: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty ImagesA view from Red Square during Earth Hour in Moscow, Russia. Photo: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesCombination images of a view of the Puente de la Mujer at Puerto Madero neighborhood before (top) and after being submerged into darkness in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: Alejandro Pagini/AFP via Getty ImagesCombination images of South Korea's Namdaemun Gate before (top) and after its lights went out in Seoul. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images