DEWA to organise Earth Hour in Dubai on March 23

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is organising Earth Hour in Dubai on 23rd March 2013, at Burj Plaza in Downtown Dubai, from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. The event is being held in partnership with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) and Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) which works in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and in cooperation with Emaar Properties. Earth Hour 2013 in Dubai was announced at a press conference held by DEWA at Armani Hotel Dubai and was attended by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, HE Ahmad Al Matrooshi, MD of Emaar Properties, Eng. Amal Koshak, Senior Marketing Communication Manager at DEWA, and Ida Tillisch, Acting Director General of Emirates Wildlife Society in Association with WWF. “In line with the UAE’s long-term initiative, ‘A Green Economy for Sustainable Development’ launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to achieve sustainable development in the Emirate of Dubai and promote the Emirate as a global hub for finance, business, and tourism, DEWA marks the Earth Hour annually to underline the concept of sustainability, raise environmental awareness, and urge individuals and organisations to adopt eco-friendly practices to conserve electricity and water consumption, and minimise the impact on the environment,” said Al Tayer. Al Tayer praised the role of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum in supporting the national and international initiatives that aim to protect planet Earth. He also urged individuals, governmental departments, and private organisations to participate in Earth Hour to support DEWA’s efforts in achieving sustainable development in Dubai. “Earth Hour goes beyond turning off the lights for one hour; it is an international call for strengthening collaboration to promote the culture of conservation, and making it a part of daily lifestyle. This supports our efforts at promoting sustainable development in Dubai, and all over the world,” added Al Tayer. “The Emirate of Dubai plays a significant role in supporting the global efforts in the field of sustainability. Dubai was the first Arab city to participate in Earth Hour in 2008 to spread awareness amongst community members on the need and importance of conserving electricity and water. By organising Earth Hour in Dubai, we aim to support the international efforts which aim at minimising carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, and environmental pollution, providing sustainable solutions for global warming and climate change, as well as protecting the environment and preserving natural resources for generations to come,” he said. “DEWA recorded a milestone during Earth Hour 2012 by reducing the consumption of 216 MW of electricity and saving 130,000 KGs of carbon emissions. The UAE is one of few countries around the world that announces the achieved results of observing Earth Hour during the high peak period. This proves the leadership of the UAE worldwide, and assures that the environmental awareness is increasing amongst UAE residents with every passing year,” concluded Al Tayer. “As the pioneer in developing integrated communities in Dubai, Emaar has consistently adhered to the highest standards of sustainability that complement the efforts of the Government to enhance energy use efficiency. From our flagship Downtown Dubai development to Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and our portfolio of hotels under The Address Hotels + Resort, Emaar will observe Earth Hour across all these iconic development. This will not only raise further awareness of sustainable living but also achieve significant energy saving. We are honoured to once again extend our support to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and the World Wide Fund for Nature to mark the ‘Earth Hour’ in Dubai,” said Al Matrooshi. “When it comes to Earth Hour, switching off the lights is just the beginning. The symbolic action behind Earth Hour resonates beyond the hour, and shows that if we all commit to a simple action for the sake of the environment, we can make a difference. On March 23, millions of people around the world will show their support for the planet by switching off all non-essential lights between 8.30-9.30pm. We look forward to seeing many individuals, businesses, schools and universities participating in the UAE this year, and committing to a sustainable lifestyle beyond the hour. We also look forward to continue working beyond the hour with our enthusiastic partners that are making this event a success in the UAE,” said Ida Tillisch. Earth Hour – jointly founded by WWF - is the most significant environmental initiative worldwide, during which millions of people across the globe gather to spread awareness on the environmental challenges. Participants turn off the lights and unnecessary home appliances for one hour to assure the importance of preserving natural resources, protecting the environment, and conserving consumption and making it a part of daily lifestyle. Earth Hour in Dubai is one of several initiatives launched by DEWA throughout the year to spread awareness amongst community members on conservation, protect the environment, and build a sustainable future for the Emirate of Dubai. Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when more than two million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned off the lights and unnecessary appliances for one hour to take a stand for protecting planet Earth. The initiative quickly evolved to become a global environmental movement of solidarity in which millions of people across the world recognised the importance of protecting the planet. Albawaba Business