The Minister for the Environment has appealed for public support for Earth Hour, which is to be marked by a “big power switch-off” for 60 minutes worldwide tonight.
Australia’s Sydney Harbour bridge, France’s Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Empire State Building in New York are due to “go dark” for one hour.
Phil Hogan said many public buildings and national monuments would also save energy between 8.30pm and 9.30pm Irish time.
In the west, local group Transition Galway has decided to stretch the hour to a day-long series of events, including a tribal spirit drum and song session in Galway’s Shop Street at 1pm, a movement meditation in Barna Woods at 4pm and “lantern walk” from Eyre Square to the Claddagh waterfront at 7.30pm.
The group is also publicising an awareness campaign in Shop Street, inviting people to sign “social-eco contracts”.
Mr Hogan said Earth Hour was “a unique worldwide initiative” for people to express their support for the environment. “It’s a demonstration that the solution to environmental issues must involve governments, businesses and individuals all working together towards the common goal of a better environment.”