The IYCN members are going on a tour of 20 cities across the country to promote renewable energy as a viable solution to reduce carbon emissions that lead to global warming.

Speaking at the function, in which hundreds of students from the University participated, Caroline Howe, Director of the Climate Solutions project having a tie-up with IYCN, said the aim was to create, communicate and celebrate climate change solutions.

She led the student volunteers gathered at the campus in raising the slogan “We are the solution.” The slogan was based on the logic that since we people are the cause of global warming, the solution also lies with us, she said.

‘Solar Punch,’ a New York-based music band, which operates its audio equipment and guitars on solar power, performed at the University campus.

Alan Bigelow and James Conklin, who started the band about a year-and-a-half ago in New York, entertained the crowd with original compositions that highlighted the importance of using renewable sources of energy.

Speaking at the launch, Madras University Vice-Chancellor S.Ramachandran said that the concentration of green house gases has increased in the atmosphere due to people’s lifestyle.

In the past 100 years the problem has accelerated, he said. Chennai was among the several coastal cities that were threatened with rising sea-levels, he said.

IYCN members used their launch to promote some products fuelled by renewable energy. On the occasion, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency showcased water heaters, dryers, dish cookers, televisions and other home appliances that run on solar energy. Also on display was a biomass gasifier which can be used to convert human waste into biogas.