Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is organising Earth Hour, the international environmental initiative, on Saturday 24 March 2018 under the theme ‘Connect to Earth’ and calls upon the public to join millions of people around the world in addressing global and warming climate change, by switching off unnecessary lights and appliances between 8:30pm and 9:30 pm local time.
The event is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai and under the umbrella of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy; and in partnership with the Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS), in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and with the support of Dubai Properties Group. As the National Strategic Partner of ‘Earth Hour UAE’, Dubai’s landmarks and government and touristic buildings will participate in the event by switching off lights for one hour.
“DEWA is organising the Earth Hour event for the eleventh consecutive year, under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. Celebrating this international environmental occasion is particularly important in the Year of Zayed, as it marks 100 years since the birth of the leader of sustainability in the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Our wise leadership follows the same path of sustainability to achieve a balance between development and the environment. Organising Earth Hour supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy and make it the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
“The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a visionary in terms of sustainable development. He understood the power of the human spirit and united our nation. Similarly, Earth Hour highlights the power of each individual, and what we can achieve if we do it together. With 2018 being the Year of Zayed, we invite everyone to join the movement, honour our Founding Father’s vision, and help us make a difference. Biodiversity is key to our livelihood. Whether it is by maintaining trees and greenery that provide us with the air we breathe, or pollination that gives us the food we eat; various species provide humanity with basic necessities, and it’s our duty now to promise to protect our shared home – the Earth, not just during Earth Hour, but on every day of the year,” said Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director-General of EWS-WWF.
“We are also pleased to work closely with DEWA, the National Strategic Partner, to implement the initiative and highlight the importance of Earth Hour and enhance its output.
“Nature and biodiversity underpin our lives, our economies, our health, our well-being, our happiness. It is the foundation of our living planet. Today, as we push the planet and its natural systems to the edge, Earth Hour is our chance to use our power, as individuals and as a collective, to demand and take action to protect this web of life in return for all it gives us. For the benefit of all life on Earth and of our own future,” Marco Lambertini, Director-General of WWF International, said.
DEWA has urged members of society and businesses to support Earth Hour 2018 by registering on (www.earthhour.ae) and promote the event on their social media pages using the hashtags #EarthHourUAE , #EarthHourDubai, and #Connect2Earth.
DEWA has invited the public to take part in the activities at Marasi Promenade Business Bay in Dubai. There will be various family and recreational activities to raise environmental awareness and promote rational use of electricity. The ‘Earth Hour Walk’, the most prominent activity of the event, will commence at 8:30pm with wide participation from government organisations, companies, universities, and schools. Free shuttle buses will be available from Business Bay metro station, to and from the event every 15 minutes from 4-10pm.
DEWA has been organising Earth Hour annually since 2008, to highlight sustainable practices that positively contribute to environmental work and support national efforts to reduce carbon emissions and conserve natural resources for generations to come. Dubai achieved remarkable results during Earth Hour 2017with a reduction of 244MW in electricity use, a 22MW increase compared to 2016.