Earth Hour 2009 has kicked off in some parts of the world and has already been touted a resounding success in Sydney harbor and Beijing.

The Earth Hour Web site reported that hundreds of people lined Sydney harbor to witness the dimming skyline at 8.30 p.m., the local time that nearly 4,000 participating cities around the world were (and are) expected to switch off non-essential lights. The famous Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing and the Water Cube were extinguished as 20 cities joined in – a blunt yet effective statement that we need to do something about climate change and global warming.

Other landmarks around the world that will dim their lights for Earth Hour are the Egyptian pyramids, Vatican, Niagara Falls, the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Acropolis in Athens and the Las Vegas casino strip.