In 2008, Dubai was the first Arab city to participate in Earth Hour, showing its support and incubating initiatives and events that promote public awareness on environmental issues and the sustainable development of the UAE, and the region.
Earth Hour is an annual event organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), in partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF), and in cooperation with Dubai Properties Group (DPG). This supports the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, who has laid down the foundations for a sustainable future for present and future generations through a vision, creative initiatives, and quality programmes.
The directions of His Highness have been translated into real initiatives with close follow-up from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which have helped Dubai to become a world model for clean and renewable energy, sustainability, and other environmental issues.
Earth Hour 2016 also adheres to the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to transform the Emirate into an international hub for clean energy and green economy, making Dubai the city with the lowest carbon in the world. This also supports the long-term Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to achieve sustainable development in Dubai, and enhance its position as a global hub for trade, finance, tourism, and green economy.
Earth Hour 2016 activities started at 4 on Saturday, 19 March 2016. All participants switched off their unnecessary lights at 8:30pm. Government entities, private companies, universities, schools and individuals all took part in Earth Hour 2016, which included a range of family and entertainment activities to spread awareness about the environment and the dangers of global warming and the need to limit climate change.
Through this annual event, DEWA aims to raise awareness among the community and promote the rational consumption of resources as part of daily life, in addition to highlighting the importance of protecting the environment to make a positive change, and supporting national efforts to enhance sustainable development in Dubai.
The UAE was one of the first countries to support the international society to meet the challenge of climate change and one of the first nations to endorse the extension of the Kyoto protocol in 2005 to limit greenhouse gases in industrial countries. It was the first nation from the region to sign the Copenhagen Accord at COP15 to limit emissions.
DEWA’s Efforts to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions
In cooperation with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE), DEWA has launched the Carbon Neutral initiative to neutralise all carbon emissions during Earth Hour. This will be achieved by adopting the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) based on the Kyoto protocol, across all DEWA projects, which is directly-linked to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change. DEWA aims to reduce carbon emissions by scheduling the event to take place during the time period in which people would usually be traveling in carbon-emitting vehicles, such as cars, resulting in a zero-carbon emission.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said that DEWA strives to achieve its vision of becoming a sustainable innovative world-class utility. DEWA has become a regional pioneer for protecting natural resources and reducing carbon emissions using the CDM, to provide a better future, for generations to come.
“DEWA’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions has been adopted as part of our environmental strategy, which focuses on limiting emissions, and providing a clean environment for the people of Dubai. One of our most important projects is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, which is the largest single-site solar energy project in the world, based on the independent power producer model. The solar park will produce 5,000MW by 2030. It will help achieve a reduction of approximately 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. We continuously launch awareness programmes and other creative initiatives to encourage all society to adopt positive practices as part of their daily lives, such as the rational use of electricity and water, and making an effort to reduce carbon emissions. DCCE supports DEWA’s strategy to improve environmental preservation, and limit carbon emissions. This strategy features a framework to improve local energy projects, in line with the Dubai Sustainable Development Strategy,” said Al Tayer.
‘Shine a light on Climate Action’ campaign
As part of its preparations for Earth Hour 2016, DEWA has launched its ‘Shine a light on Climate Action’ campaign, to raise awareness about the dangers of the increasing-effects of climate change.
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