Several landmarks across Brussels, Antwerp and Mechelen will be plunged into darkness this Saturday evening as part of an event called 'Earth Hour' organised by environmental NGO the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
This international event, held annually at the end of March by the non-governmental organisation, aims to highlight the urgent need for action to protect humans and nature. As part of the hour-long campaign, citizens, cities and businesses worldwide are encouraged to switch off their lights.
In Brussels, the façades of the Grand Place, Bourse and the Atomium will have their lights turned off from 20:30 to 21:30. This gesture by the City of Brussels is intended to raise awareness of the importance of saving energy. Additionally, a silent disco will be held at Bourse, where DJ music will be transmitted directly into headsets handed out to the public.
Meanwhile, Brussels public transport operator STIB will dim the lights in a third of their metro and premetro stations at the designated time. For safety reasons, the operator stated that "it is obviously impossible to completely darken our entire network." Nonetheless, the reduced lighting will save around 470 kWh of energy: the approximate monthly electricity consumption for 1.6 households in Brussels.
Related News
- Brussels restaurant finally opens on largest rooftop in Europe
- Best in Town: Favourite bars for students in Brussels
The cities of Antwerp and Mechelen will also join the initiative and turn off the lights in various historic and cultural spots. As a longer-term proposition, Antwerp city has reiterated its ambition to switch all its lighting to LED by 2030.
The Earth Hour initiative was launched by WWF in Sydney in 2007. This event unites representatives and citizens from over 190 countries on the last Saturday of March every year in an effort to raise awareness about the effects of climate change.
