HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), honoured around 40 public and private partners and supporters of Earth Hour, as well as media personalities. This was for their efforts to achieve savings of 267 megawatts (MW) of electricity during Earth Hour 2019 in Dubai, which is equivalent to reducing 114 tonnes of carbon emissions. Al Tayer honoured the organisations during the activities organised by DEWA at Marasi Business Bay in Dubai. Thousands of people of all ages and nationalities took part. The event had family and entertainment activities to raise environmental awareness. The Year of Tolerance logo was formed with candles at the event. A large number of officials and the public joined the Earth Hour Walk, which started at 8:30pm, carrying candles and eco-friendly lanterns in an expression of solidarity with global efforts to protect Planet Earth.
Al Tayer also thanked all the customers who observed Earth Hour by switching off their lights and unnecessary electrical appliances for an hour. For the 4th consecutive year, DEWA offset the carbon emissions resulting from its Earth Hour activities, with Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) credits from its projects. This is based on the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“I thank everyone who contributed to the savings in electricity consumption during Earth Hour 2019, including individuals and public and private organisations. This emphasises their knowing the importance of the rational use of resources. The purpose for observing Earth Hour is more important than the savings made during that hour. Nonetheless, our main goal is to encourage all our customers to adopt a conscious and responsible lifestyle regarding electricity and water, and make conservation a daily practice to contribute to tackling climate change and supporting national strategies to reduce carbon emissions. These include the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to make Dubai the city with the lowest footprint in the world and the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy to reduce emissions by 16% by 2021. The results that Dubai achieved during Earth Hour each year underscore the important role that all society members can undertake to rationalise energy use and reduce the carbon footprint to protect the environment and natural resources, ensuring their sustainability for generations to come,” said Al Tayer.
Partners and supporters of Earth Hour 2019 who were honoured during the event include HE Ahmed Abdul Karim Julfar, Director General of Community Development Authority (CDA); ); HE Khalifa Al Darrai, Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services; HE Dherar Belhoul Al Falasi, Director General of the Watani Al Emarat Foundation; HE Saif Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC); Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Dubal Holding; HE Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council; Dr Essa Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai; Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group; and Khalid Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Holding.
Al Tayer also honoured representatives of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment; the Dubai Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dubai Police; Dubai Municipality; the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA); the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA); the General Directorate of Civil Defence in Dubai; Dubai Public Prosecution; the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department; Dubai Economic Development Department; Dubai Land Department; the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; Dubai Culture & Arts Authority; Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; Dubai Airports Free Zone Authority; the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation; the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment, Emirates Wildlife Society in association with the World Wide Fund For Nature; UAE Youth Hostel Association; Majid Al Futtaim Group; Union CoOp; Mai Dubai; as well as a number of media personalities and social influencers for their role in promoting Earth Hour.
In 2008, Dubai was the first Arab city to participate in Earth Hour. This demonstrates its pioneering role in supporting and embracing initiatives and activities that enhance public awareness on environmental issues, and support sustainable development. Earth Hour is one of the largest environmental initiatives that millions of people in hundreds of capitals and major cities around the world take part in, to express their solidarity with the global effort to address global warming and climate change, and raise awareness about pressing environmental issues. This is done by turning off unnecessary lights and electric appliances from 8:30 to 9:30pm on the last Saturday of March every year.