Photo: WWF

B.C. residents are being asked to take an hour to help the planet.

Thousands of British Columbians are being urged to join others around the world in turning off lights and powering down electronics as part of Earth Hour 2017.

The lights go out Saturday, March 25, between 8:30-9:30 p.m.

The Jubilee Lights at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria will be turned off and the Lions Gate Bridge lights in Vancouver will also go dark to celebrate the 11th-annual Earth Hour.

Where possible, more than 170 provincial government offices will power off non-essential lights and electronics.

Earth Hour is a global event encouraging people to conserve energy by flicking the off-switch on lights and electronics and joining millions worldwide to show their support for climate change action. Participants from six continents, more than 170 countries and 24 time zones will participate.

Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 by the World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about the effects of climate change. Today, Earth Hour has grown to engage more than 7,000 cities worldwide.