Since its inception in 2007, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Earth Hour has grown to become a global movement, when households and businesses all over the world switch off their non-essential lights for one hour on the same day to raise awareness for the need to take action against climate change. In 2009, over 4000 cities in 88 countries participated in this initiative.

Last year, Students Against the Violation of Earth (SAVE) embarked on the first Earth Hour event in NUS with strong support from the Office of Environmental Sustainability (OES), Office of Estate and Development (OED) and other campus offices and departments. The event saw over 200 NUS students and staff attending a movie screening and a candlelight vigil at the pitch-dark field. On campus, the event helped to raise awareness of the need to take action against climate change. This year, Earth Hour will take place on March 27, 2010, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, local time.

Building on the efforts of last year’s Earth Hour, SAVE intends to increase the outreach of this year’s event as well as to improve the programme beyond simply raising symbolic awareness on climate change. In line with our overarching “NUS Fights Climate Change – What About YOU?” campaign launched in 2009 by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) and Mayor, South West District, and Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS President, which is aimed at engaging every individual in creating a concerted effort towards combating climate change, NUS Earth Hour 2010 will be geared towards involving everyone – both the environmentally-conscious and the not, in doing something simple for the environment. In addition to switching off lights in the designated zones on NUS Kent Ridge campus, this year’s event will include an attempt to set a record for origami-making as well as band performances to engage the participants. The signing ceremony of the NUS Students’ Sustainability Charter and the launch of the Campus in a Tropical Rainforest programme will also take place in Earth Hour itself.

Raise symbolic awareness on energy conservation through the launch of Earth Hour 2010

  • Inspire individuals to take action that helps conserve the environment
  • Provide a platform for every individual to contribute to protecting the environment in any capacity that they are comfortable with
  • Take action on mitigating and adapting to climate change through the Campus in a Tropical Rainforest programme
  • To kick start the development of a concerted NUS student front for the environment through the signing of the NUS Students’ Sustainability Charter