Posted on 27 March 2009

The Empire State Building in New York is to join a long list of international landmarks to turn off lights during WWF’s Earth Hour tomorrow night to make a statement on the need for effective action on climate change.

The 102 storey building, renowned as the world’s tallest building from its completion in 1931 until 1972, is to be joined by several of its successors in the role as thousands of global monuments dating from the time of the Pyramids make what has been termed “a vote for earth”.

Hundreds of millions of people from more than 2000 towns and cities in 84 countries are currently expected to take part in the event, which started two years ago with the citizens of just one city, Sydney in Australia.

The global call for action is directed to negotiators who need to reach agreement on a new global deal on climate change at a UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

The recognized arbiter on tall building claims is the Illinois Institute of Technology based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Also turning lights off for Earth Hour are the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, considered the world’s tallest buildings from 1998 until eclipsed by the Taipei 101 building in 2004, and still the world’s tallest twin building.

Taipei 101, the current world’s tallest building, is also to turn off its lights, as is the taller but not yet recognized Burj Dubai tower in the United Arab Emirates, expected to take the title when able to be occupied in about September this year.