Dubai leads Earth Hour celebration

The global event aims to encourage residents and businesses to turn off lights and unnecessary electronic devices for one hour, to raise awareness about the importance of global warming and rationalising energy consumption to protect the environment.

Pre-launch activities for the celebrations in Dubai will begin at 5 pm with the Earth Hour to be observed from 8.30 to 9.30 PM. At the annual Earth Hour Walk, participants from various government department and institutions, private sector entities, universities and schools will take part alongside other community members.

The initiative will witness many family activities and entertainment events aimed at promoting environmental awareness among all segments of society. They will light candles and lanterns, and march from Burj Plaza, Downtown Dubai, past Burj Khalifa.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA invited individuals and institutions to participate in the global event, both by taking part in the Earth Hour Walk and by turning off lights and unnecessary electronic devices from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. He said it was important for members from all sections of the society to adopt a positive attitude towards environmental sustainability. This in turn supports the efforts of the Government of Dubai to promote sustainable development and create a better future through the cumulative impact of the positive individual steps taken by every member of the community.

The initiative also calls community members to follow simple tips for rational consumption in their daily lives, such as replacing light bulbs with energy-saving ones, and turning off the lights in unused rooms as well as using natural light wherever possible instead of electric lights.

The global event attracts participants from many cities around the world including Dubai, the first city in the region to participate in Earth Hour. It is an opportunity to show commitment to change for a better future as part of a global community working towards a more sustainable planet.