Eco-conscious cruise lovers will no doubt welcome the fact that Cunard Cruise’s Queen Mary II will take part in observing “Earth Hour” this year.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million individuals and more than two thousand businesses switched off their lights for a one-hour period to take a stand against climate change and to encourage energy conservation.

It has since grown into a world-wide phenomenon. In 2010 a total of 128 countries and territories joined hands in an event that spanned all the continents. Iconic buildings and landmarks such as the CN Tower in Toronto, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Colosseum in Rome and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco all stood in darkness for an hour in solidarity with our planet.

This year the Queen Mary will do her bit to raise awareness of the urgent need to address the problem of climate change.

At the start of Earth Hour, the ship will sound her horn. Most of her exterior lights will then be switched off for the rest of the hour, except those that are vital for safety purposes.

Guests will also be requested to switch off all lights that are not essential and to join the staff on the Sundeck for an evening of “unplugged” entertainment, free appetisers and organic cocktails.

Earth Hour organisers world wide this year called on participants to “go beyond the hour” – to spend some time afterwards thinking about what each one of us can do to conserve energy and counter global warming.