Bahrain World Trade Center shows commitment to sustainability through participation in 'Earth Hour'

The initiative is supported by the United Nations and aims to reach more than one billion people in 1000 cities around the world, inviting individuals, community bodies, businesses and governments to switch off their lights for one hour.

Other participating landmarks include the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, the Burj Dubai, the Acroplolis in Athens, and the Empire State Building in New York.

Speaking on the reasons behind BWTC's participation, Mr. Bob Addison, Country Manager of DTZ (BWTC's Managing and Leasing Agents) commented, "The Earth Hour initiative is an important step towards decisive action on global climate change. The BWTC is proud that this year, countries within developing and emerging economies have united as the driving force behind the tremendous growth in this year's campaign. As the world's first development to incorporate wind turbines, Earth Hour is aligned with our objective of promoting Bahrain's efforts in sustainability to local, regional and international audiences."

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message rapidly grew into a global sustainability movement, with some 50 million people switching off their lights. Through registering online the results of this year's election, 'Vote Earth', will be presented to the world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark from 7th to 13th of December 2009.

The BWTC has to date received a number of accolades, the most recent accolade of which is being named 'Best Tall Building' in the Middle East and Africa region of 2008 by leading architectural body dedicated to the field of tall buildings, The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

Designed and engineered by Atkins, the award confirms the building's elite position as one of the most iconic buildings in the world. In addition, November of 2008 saw the BWTC become a 'Blue Monument', as it lit up in blue in support of World Diabetes Day, joining over 800 other global landmarks from 160 countries.