The campus will be joining the global effort to switch off lights and call attention to climate change this Saturday on the UA Mall for Earth Hour.

During Earth Hour people from all across the planet turn off lights as a call for climate change action. The event on the Mall will begin at 8 p.m., with lights scheduled to turn off worldwide at 8:30 p.m.

This is the UA Residence Life Eco-Reps’ third Earth Hour event, but the first year they will have multiple performances.

Earth Hour has been happening across the globe since 2007, when 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 business in Sydney, Australia flicked off their lights to send a message. Soon people from around the globe were joining, with landmarks like The Golden Gate Bridge and the Eiffel Tower switching off power. Last year was the world’s largest Earth Hour with 128 countries and territories participating.

The Mall event will have pizza provided by Papa John’s and sustainable entertainment in the form of The Charles Darwin Experience, Planet Djembe drumming and the Elemental Artistry fire arts performance troupe.

Julie Kard, the Eco-Reps president and a sophomore majoring in veterinary science and ecology and evolutionary biology, said she thinks that the event on the Mall will give students a chance to join in the global event.

“”It encourages people to really take part in Earth Hour to its fullest,”” Kard said. “”We are able to show people that there is a great way to have fun without having to use electricity.””

Papa John’s will be providing pizza and purchasing carbon offsets in order to make up for the electricity used to make the food, Kard said.

Jake Turner, an astronomy and physics senior and student adviser of the Eco-Reps, said he thinks the most important part of Earth Hour is that it allows people to take a stand for something in which they believe.

“”Essentially it’s our future that we’re trying to protect,”” Turner said. “”We’re the rising leaders of the world.””