Some of the world's most famous landmarks and monuments were plunged into darkness this evening to raise awareness of climate change. Big Ben and the London Eye switched off their lights for Earth Hour, joining the Eiffel Tower, Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. The annual event, organised by conservation organisation WWF, saw more than 700 iconic landmarks worldwide go dark at 8.30pm local time, as millions of homes turned off their power. Scroll down for video . Big Ben switched off its lights for an hour from 8.30pm to mark Earth Hour, an annual event to highlight the effects of climate change . The South Bank was plunged into darkness as Earth Hour started, with the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament turning off the lights . Haunting: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament blended into the night sky shortly after 8.30pm when the lights were switched off . The Eiffel Tower in Paris was among more than 700 iconic landmarks and monuments worldwide which switched off their lights for Earth Hour . Brandenburg Gate in Berlin also switched off its lights as hundreds gathered in the German capital for the annual event . St Basil's Cathedral also went dark for an hour, starting at 8.30pm local time, to raise awareness about climate change . The annual event started in Asia and Oceania, where Sydney Harbour Bridge descended into darkness as the Australian flag flew above it . Earth Hour started in Samoa and will finish in Tahiti, sweeping through 24 time zones and six continents as some of the most recognisable buildings in the world turned out the lights. The Palace of Westminster, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and even Blackpool Tower were among those switching off, as well as more than 30 Unesco World Heritage sites. Earth Hour was launched in 2007 in Australia and has spread globally since . Last year nine million people in the UK took part, lighting candles in their homes as they switched off lights in their homes, as part of a record-breaking chain of 162 countries. Yesterday Prince Charles appeared in a video message, alongside a photograph of him and his grandson Prince George, calling on Britain to do more to protect our planet for future generations. The Forth Bridge joined the hundreds of landmarks taking place worldwide as it also turned off its lights to mark Earth Hour . Thousands gathered in Quezon City, north of Manila in the Philippines, to take part in a mass zumba as the lights were turned off there . The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, also switched off its lights as part of the event, which saw more than 30 Unesco World Heritage Sites go dark�� . The bright lights of Leifeng Pagoda are seen behind the West Lake before Earth Hour in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, eastern China . The tower suddenly darkened as Earth Hour swept across China as it made its way across 24 different time zones . The lights were switched off on the Old Bridge in Mostar, southern Bosnia, creating a serene view from this hill next to the river running through the city . The 101 building in Taipei also switched off its lights to mark the annual event, which is marked by conservation organisation WWF . The business district in Jakarta, Indonesia, also darkened as more than 700 landmarks worldwide took part in Earth Hour . He said: 'Switching off the lights for Earth Hour is a statement of intent by everyone who takes part, making them part of a community which recognises that we really do have one planet and that we have it not just for ourselves but also for our children and grandchildren. 'It is a symbolic and powerful reminder that together we have the power to change things. It should also remind us that we do not have much time in which to make those changes. If everyone in the world consumed natural resources at the rate we do in the United Kingdom we would need three planets and not just one to support us.' 'The impacts - not least climate change, deforestation, overfishing, and the loss of numerous species for whom this planet should also be there - are already starting to affect us all. 'WWF works hard to address many of the environmental issues we face on our planet but Earth Hour is a chance for everyone to show that they care and are willing to do their bit to help because collective action has never been more vital. Last year over nine million people took part in Earth Hour in the UK.' 'They joined more than 1,000 businesses and organisations as well as the 4,600 schools which participated alongside some of the country's best known landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Edinburgh Castle, Tower Bridge, the Senedd, and Wembley Stadium.'
Some of Britain's most iconic landmarks were plunged into darkness  to raise awareness of climate change . Lights at Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Old Trafford switched off for Earth Hour at 8.30pm . 700 monuments worldwide went dark, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin .