BUILDINGS across Edinburgh are set to be plunged into darkness for an hour next year as part of a major climate change initiative.
City leaders have agreed to join next year's Earth Hour drive, which would see the Capital's landmark buildings switch their lights off to promote the need to conserve energy.
The move means Edinburgh is the first Scottish city to agree to take pa
rt in the initiative, which is run by the World Wildlife Fund and was originally set up in Australia in 2007.
The drive sees households and businesses across the world encouraged to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness about the effects of climate change caused by wasted electricity.
The plans to include Edinburgh in the initiative were proposed by green councillor Alison Johnstone, who said that the event would be an important way of promoting energy conservation across the city.
She said: "To see landmarks like Edinburgh Castle, the National Galleries and buildings on The Mound without their usual illumination could really help to drive this message home."
Weblinks: Earth Hour websiteEdinburgh City CouncilWWF ScotlandEarth Hour's Wikipedia entryThe full article contains 204 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
