Dubai first Arab city to join Earth Hour

Dubai is the first Arab city to declare its support for Earth Hour

Dubai Holding and the Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA) have linked up to lead the initiative that also has the support of Dubai Municipality, Dubai International Financial Centre, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai World Trade Centre, Nakheel, Emaar and Leo Burnett.

'We are asking everyone in Dubai to switch off all non-essential lights for one hour, at 8.00pm on March 29, to send a message around the world that we have the power to take action against global warming and that by working together we really can make a huge difference,' said Fadel Ali, Executive Chairman Dubai Holding Operations.

'Earth Hour will clearly demonstrate the connection between energy usage and climate change, showing that we as a broader community can address the biggest threat our planet has ever faced.'

Earth Hour, which began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, is now a worldwide environmental movement that will see millions of people turn off non-essential lighting. Earth Hour will roll through 14 time zones, starting in New Zealand and ending in the Pacific Time Zone. It will traverse more than 25 cities.

Earth Hour, from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm local time on March 29, will involve people and businesses turning off non essential lights and appliances for one hour to show how people working together in a spirit of openness can make a difference.

Taking action isn't difficult and can be as simple as turning off a mobile phone charger when it is not in use, switching off the television or CD player at the wall, rather than leaving it on stand-by, turning off unused lights or making sure office and home computers are completely shut down.

'Earth Hour is all about people sharing responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,' said Kamal Dimachkie from the Dubai office of Leo Burnett, the creative agency behind the initial Earth Hour, in Sydney. 'By turning the lights off for one hour on March 29, we can turn the lights on in people's minds about the need to find better ways to live on our planet.'