Around 500 citizens, including a large number of students from M S Ramaiah Institute of Management, participated in the run near the college campus. Swimmers Nisha Millet, Rehan Poncha and Shikha Tandon, hockey player Ashish Ballal and athlete Ashwini Nachappa also participated.

"Bangalore is already reeling under rising temperatures, having recorded 22 degrees celsius only a few years ago. We are at a stage where we cannot settle for half measures. We need an energy revolution," climate activist Brikesh Singh said.

Nisha Millet said: "We want the citizens to know it is high time they started becoming energy efficient. Something as simple as replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs and LEDs can actually help overcome the power shortage. We all need to take immediate proactive steps."

Participants were reminded of the `Nine Commandments' that have to be adhered to in order to successfully mitigate climate change. These include the basics of saving energy, besides a pledge to replace inefficient appliances and shift to renewable energy wherever possible.

The campaign will reach out to companies, celebrities, students and the youth. It will be replicated in other cities too.