GW's Plans for Earth Hour and Earth Day Next Month

If you’re wondering what plans GW has for Earth Day which is right around the corner on April 22, get prepared to get involved because GW is playing its role to contribute to a greener earth.

With two green roof projects completed, the University currently writing its Climate Action Plan, and plans for Earth Hour and Earth Day, the GW Office of Sustainability is taking action.

In an email to WRGW News, the Office of Sustainability said the University’s Climate Action Plan will lay a path for the University to become carbon neutral. The office also stated they have been working with student groups on campus and have been arranging symposium events, tree plantings, outdoor fairs and movie screenings for Earth Day. But before next month, Earth Hour is this Saturday on March 27 from 8:30p.m. to 9:30p.m., when millions of people around the world turn off their lights for one hour to call for action on climate change.

The Office of Sustainability is encouraging students on campus to participate in the hour. The Green Living Committee and RACs in residence halls have been planning events for students such as roof raves and glow in the dark parties. There will also be a contest to see which hall has the most percent of lights off and a prize will go to a large and small hall.

Student organizations such as Green GW are also contributing to making a change before Earth Day. Partnering with other area universities, including American University, George Mason University and the University of the District of Columbia, Green GW will be lobbying on Capitol Hill to promote climate action this week March 22-26. Students will be separated in groups based on their home state and meet with Congressional offices to express student support.

To get more involved with greening GW, students can serve on the Green Living Committee, Campaign GW and take sustainability courses ranging from civil and environmental engineering to courses in economics. The School of Media and Public Affairs also offers a Planet Forward class in which students use multimedia to report on living sustainably, reducing carbon footprints and the topic of climate change. Students can upload videos on planetforward.com with or without being enrolled in the class.

For more information and a list of the events taking place during Earth Hour, visit www.sustainability.gwu.edu/earthhour.