Gormley in support of 'lights out'

HOMES AND businesses should join Leinster House and Government Buildings by turning their lights off for 60 minutes tonight, Minister for the Environment John Gormley has said.

Mr Gormley was making the call in support of the fourth annual Earth Hour.

The event encourages people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour to show support for action on climate change. It will begin tonight at 8.30pm.

Last year, over 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off their lights with landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Colosseum in Rome and the CNN Tower in Toronto all in darkness.

It is expected that as many as 50 million people worldwide will take part in the event. In Ireland, Leinster House, Government Buildings and the Four Courts will have their lights out. All non-essential lights will be turned off by many councils around the country.

Mr Gormley said he hoped people at home and in businesses would switch off their lights.