Dubai: More than 23,000 tonnes of toxic gases were emitted by Dubai's one million cars in 2009, prompting Dubai Municipality to dedicate February 17 as Car Free Day for its staff and visitors
Based on the concept of the Car Free Day which first emerged in 1970 in the US during the oil crisis, the 1,500 staff employed at the civic body will have to travel to work by public transport. Many European cities started implementing similar days in the '90s and now more than 40 countries have followed suit.
"It is a small measure… but we are concerned about the environment and we need to explain and show people what they can do to protect it on different levels," said Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality.
"We hope other local governments will follow us, as well as organisations and individuals," he said. "All our employees will leave their cars outside the city and come to work using public transport. I plan to get the Metro from Rashidiyah station."
Visitors should also plan to use public transport as the car parks will be closed.
The transport sector contributes 42 per cent towards CO2 emissions in the emirate with each vehicle releasing 110 to 250g per kilometre of the toxic fume. According to municipality statistics Dubai has 1,021,880 vehicles on its roads which produces 23,343,762 kg of CO2 every day.
Cars that run on petrol are responsible for around 82 per cent of the fumes, followed by cars running on diesel which cause more than seven per cent of pollution. Trucks, buses, heavy vehicles and motorbikes make up the remaining 11 per cent.
Hamdan Al Shair, Director of the Environment Department, said the energy sector contributes more than the transport sector to the UAE's high carbon footprint, however Car Free Day will have an impact on all society.
Can you live without your car? How would your life be if you did not have a car?
