It’s lights out for climate change

Two dozen cities around the world plan to turn their lights off for one hour next month to raise awareness about global warming, organizers said today.

Last March, Sydney, Australia dimmed its skyline when residents, businesses and the government took part in Earth Hour. The event was a hit and the World Wildlife Fund, the event’s organizer, said it would try to make the campaign global.

Organizers estimated that 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses in Sydney turned off their lights, reducing the city’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, or the equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for that time.

So far, 24 cities, including San Francisco, Chicago, Phoenix and Atlanta, have agreed to take part in this year’s event, scheduled for March 29, the environmental group said.