ABU DHABI
Observing Earth Hour is as simple as it gets. Switch off the lights at home for 60 minutes today and you will be doing your part to save the environment.
This evening, when thousands turn off their lights from 8.30 to 9.30pm to mark the eighth annual Earth Hour 2015, the UAE will join as many as 7,000 cities in 162 countries in the collective eco-movement.
For the past seven years of Earth Hour in Dubai, it is estimated the emirate has collectively saved 1,291MWh — enough energy to power 81 average homes for a year, based on the Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator of the US Environment Protection Agency.
This is equivalent to saving a year’s worth of emissions of 187 passenger vehicles from being released into the atmosphere.
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) will host Earth Hour 2015 at 5pm today at Bay Avenue Park, Business Bay, with a range of family activities.
An Earth Hour Walkathon will be held at 8.30pm. Government departments and institutions, businesses, universities and schools alongside other community members will come together to promote the message of environmental sustainability.
Meanwhile, Suhail Mohammad Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy, said in a statement yesterday that the UAE’s leadership has ensured the welfare of citizens and sustainability of resources through pioneering initiatives.
He said the main objective of celebrating Earth Hour is to raise awareness of the adoption of such practices which would contribute significantly to reduce wastage of energy and water consumption and cut emissions.
He also reiterated that energy consumption is one of the most effective factors to achieve objectives of the green economy of the UAE.
— With inputs from WAM
