World Heritage sites participate in Earth Hour

Wednesday, 28 March 2012
access_time 1 min read
Xi''an City Wall South Gate, China (29/03/2012) © Zhang Yimo | Zhang Yimo

UNESCO will partner with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Earth Hour, one of the world's largest and most well-known environmental campaigns in the world. UNESCO has invited World Heritage sites to participate in this initiative by switching off the lights on the night of Earth Hour: Saturday, 31 March 2012, from 8:30 to 9:30pm local time. The lights will also be switched off at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova says, "As a leading advocate for the protection and management of the planet's most precious sites, UNESCO is pleased to participate in Earth Hour 2012. This year, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention, I appeal to all involved with World Heritage sites around the globe to join the Earth Hour initiative and switch off their lights in the evening of 31 March 2012. With this simple gesture, iconic sites and local communities can show their leadership and commitment for a sustainable planet." A video message from Ms Bokova can also be viewed in English or French.

The Earth Hour campaign began in 2007, and has grown each year. In 2011, 1.8 billion people participated in 5251 cities in 135 countries. For more information, consult the website (www.earthhour.org).

Below are the World Heritage sites that have confirmed that they are participating in Earth Hour 2012.

Wednesday, 28 March 2012
access_time 1 min read
World Heritage Properties 62
Burgos Cathedral Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst Churches and Convents of Goa City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg Classical Weimar Curonian Spit Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape Gardens and Castle at Kroměříž Great Living Chola Temples Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram Historic Centre of Florence Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg Historic Centre of Vienna Historic City of Ayutthaya Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra L'viv – the Ensemble of the Historic Centre La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia Maritime Greenwich Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System Old Town of Corfu Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn Palmeral of Elche Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans San Cristóbal de La Laguna Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim Sydney Opera House Teide National Park Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries Tiya Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape Tower of Hercules Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen Vizcaya Bridge Völklingen Ironworks Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower Wartburg Castle Works of Antoni Gaudí Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen