Dubai: October 22 will now be observed as the World Energy Day every year, it was announced at the World Energy Forum on Monday. With this, Dubai has once again created history, officials at the World Energy Forum said.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, led the signing ceremony of the International Declaration for the World Energy Day along with 24 heads of states and governments participating at the three-day World Energy Forum, which started in Dubai on Monday.
Announcing the initiative, Dr Harold Harold Hyunsuk Oh, President and Chairman of World Energy Forum, said: “On July 22 this year, when we met His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid in Dubai he announced that the first day of World Energy Forum of this year, which is October 22, will be marked as the World Energy Day, every year, following its endorsement. Today we are witnessing a new beginning in the move for a new energy civilisation.”
The initiative, launched by World Energy Forum, has secured instant support from 24 countries, and if endorsed by others, could become World Energy Day every year.
October 22 joins April 22 – that is celebrated globally as Earth Day and June 5 – observed as the World Environment Day.
Earth Day is an annual day on which events are held worldwide to increase awareness and appreciation of the Earth’s natural environment. Earth Day is coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year.
World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated every year on June 5 to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
It was the day that United Nations Conference on the Human Environment began — it ran from June 5 to 16, 1972 — and the day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The first World Environment Day was in 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition in the week of June 5.
The event marks the beginning of a new era marking a third day – October 22 – as the World Energy Day.
“The signing of this declaration is a testimony to our movement for energy efficiency and will strengthen the movement for smart energy and our call for the governments to initiate stronger public policies to ensure sustainability,” Dr Hyunsuk Oh said.
