Dubai: All it takes is 60 minutes to show your solidarity with the message of Earth Hour.
Come 8.30pm on Saturday, Earth Hour, now in its ninth year, is encouraging residents in the UAE and 177 other participating countries to switch off lights.
In what has become a symbiotic bond between millions of ecologically minded people around the globe, offices and residences in the UAE will go dark for Earth Hour 2016 to send a message of environmental conservation and preservation.
From the Empire State Building and the UN headquarters in New York to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Burj Khalifa in Dubai, lights will be switched off in a unified gesture reminding people to turn off electrical appliances in their homes, turn down air-conditioning and burn less fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gases.
Click to view infograph: Earth hour: By the numbers
Click to vote in our Earth Hour poll
The goal is to support global efforts to limit temperature increases to within 1.5 degrees Celsius as set forth in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21, in Paris in November last year.
Earth Hour is organised by World Wildlife Fund and involved 7,000 cities last year.
Siddarth Das, executive director, Earth Hour Global, told Gulf News on Wednesday that the environmental celebration is not so much about saving energy as it is about making a mass statement around the world in the name of saving the planet.
Click here for Earth Hour poll
As the momentum of Earth Day grows every year, so does the gravity and reach of the message to millions of people, especially youth.
“Earth Hour is WWF’s mass engagement platform for climate action. Earth Hour started in Sydney in 2007 as an idea to unite Sydney-siders to deliver a firm message that climate change was an issue they cared about. In the years since, not only has the movement grown to 178 countries and territories [in 2016] but it has evolved into the world’s largest grass roots movement for the environment,” Das said.
“Earth Hour is not an energy-saving exercise and therefore we do not measure the energy saved. Switching off the lights is a symbolic gesture, the first step toward taking a stand for climate action. It is a powerful visual reminder that not only do people care about changing climate change but, when individuals unite, the power of the collective can create massive impact as we have seen with Earth Hour over the past nine years.
"As people turn off the lights, they are making the switch from passive bystanders to showing they care and are ready to take action for the planet. The popular appeal of these highly visual symbolic gestures also helps WWF and Earth Hour communicate the importance of climate issues and the need to take action throughout the year to create tangible environmental impact,” Das said.
The Emirates Wildlife Society-World Wildlife Fund in the UAE is partnering with local organisers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Sharjah and Fujairah where special public events are planned to observe the hour.
Noora Luotola, brand manager, EWS-WWF, told Gulf News that Earth Hour is about giving people a voice for environmental change.
“This is an opportunity for people to come together to join the global movement and a symbolic gesture to encourage the country to take climate action,” Luotola said on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi. “This is everyone’s chance where their voice can be heard. The goal is keep global temperature increases within 1.5 degrees Celsius.”
In Dubai, special Earth Hour celebrations are being planned for the public by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.
Earth Hour celebrations run from 4pm-10pm in Bay Avenue Park and include a special walk to encourage environmental awareness that kicks off at 8.30pm to coincide with the beginning of the actual hour itself.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice-chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Managing director and CEO of Dewa, said the event is “in line with the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 to reduce carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021 ... the strategy aims to provide seven per cent of Dubai’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020. This target will increase to 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050”.
Al Tayer noted that by launching initiatives to reduce electricity and water use, Dewa managed to save 1,344 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, and 5.6 billion imperial gallons of water, saving Dh841 million, and limiting carbon dioxide emissions by over 714,000 tonnes.
Amal Koshak, senior manager of Marketing Communications at Dewa, told Gulf News that Saturday’s event is in keeping with plans to “transform Dubai into an international hub for clean energy and green economy with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050, while combining the efforts of public and private organisations to achieve the Dubai Plan 2021 to transform Dubai into a smart, integrated, and connected city, capable of managing its resources in pursuit of protecting its energy resources, and reducing the emirate’s carbon footprint, creating a sustainable future for generations to come”.
By the numbers
Global 2015 statistics:
• 172 countries
• 10,400 landmarks
• 70,500+ events
• 620,000 actions to change climate change
• 2.2 billion impressions
• 82 million views on videos
UAE 2015 statistics:
• All 7 emirates
• 31.7 million impressions
• 2.3 million people reached
• All key landmarks participated such as Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Etihad Towers, Emirates Palace etc.
More in the global impact report https://www.earthhour.org/sites/default/files/Earth-Hour-2015-Global-Stats-Report.pdf
Earth Hour online in the UAE
This year’s Earth Hour campaign takes Earth Hour into the digital space and communicates the message through social media and multiple inspiring videos, said EWS-WWF organisers in the UAE.
Individuals and organisations in the UAE are encouraged to sign up to donate their social feed by logging on to:
English https://www.earthhour.org/earth-hour-2015-highlights, Arabic http://www.changeclimatechange.org/ar_AE/
By signing up through this Facebook plugin, users allow Earth Hour to send five automated posts on their FB wall between March 16-19, 2016. In addition, users will get access to a unique Earth Hour profile picture that they can use to show their commitment to our precious planet. Here in the UAE, #EarthHourUAE is going beyond the hour. By signing up, people from the UAE will continue receiving monthly tips on how to green their routine. These tips will be delivered in inspiring, multimedia formats that are easily shareable on their social media and by email.
Earth Day events in UAE
Abu Dhabi
- Abu Dhabi Municipality will switch off lights and organise a candle walk on Al Bateen Beach. In addition they will host awareness raising activities at their offices on Salam Street.
- Yas Mall: a three-hour event that involves dimming the lights as well as an activation with Petroleum Institute.
- Saadiyat Beach Golf Club celebrates Earth Hour with The Big Picnic featuring food truck stations, games and activities on March 19. When darkness falls, the glow sticks come out. Picnic from 2pm, Earth Hour from 8.30pm. .
- Park Rotana & Park Arjaan by Rotana Abu Dhabi will hold Yoga in the Dark at Park on from 8.30pm–9.30pm.
- Beach Rotana: Join colleagues and guests alike in the hotel Courtyard and surrounding beach area as they turn out the lights and look to the stars.
-Chalhoub Group takes action on climate change. They join WWF and people around the world by switching off the lights of their stores across the region during Earth Hour.
- Le Royal Meridien has planned a series of activities for our guests and associates. Switching off lights in hotel as well as associate accommodations, awareness training for associates, associate gathering in a public park, collect and donate used linen etc. are part of the Earth Hour celebrations.
- Janna Burj Al Sarab: Darkness envelops the entire 18 floors from 8.30pm-9.30pm to mark the occasion. Hotel employees armed with lit candles will gather in the lobby to form the 60+ shape. Meanwhile, the hotel’s new restaurant The Dining Room will hold a candlelit dinner for guests.
- Yas Viceroy will switch off and at their restaurant Cipriani, guests can enjoy a four-course meal amidst a sea of candles with the beautiful Yas Marina as a backdrop.
- Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi, will be turning off all non-essential lights around the hotel. Head to the beach for yoga by candlelight, followed by drinks at the beach bar, open especially for the event. Book a place for yoga on 02-6543160.
Dubai
- #EarthHourDubai, a walk and activities hosted by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and Supreme Council of Energy to show support to Earth Hour Dubai, at Bay Avenue Park, Business Bay, 4-10pm. Call 04-6019999.
- The Amwaj Rotana, Jumeirah Beach is donating proceeds from candles sold at various restaurant outlets, front desk and Bodylines fitness club to support the SENSES Care Home for Children with Special Needs towards the payment of their Dewa utility bill.
- Farnek is switching off lights at several locations including central park, city walk etc.
- Sheraton Grand Hotel is hosting a candlelit treat at Feast Restaurant; a unique sustainable corner with eco-friendly and tasty products that respect the earth.
- Screening of Home, an educational and engaging documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand to celebrate Earth Hour. The film feature aerial shots of 54 countries, depicting how Earth’s problems are all interlinked. At JLT Community Park, behind Cluster O, 7.30pm. Free, register at facebook.com/locomotionuae.
- Fairmont Dubai serves an organic meal in the dark at Noire, using environmentally and animal friendly farmed ingredients. Guests experience a complete loss of vision for an hour and a half and put their trust in the hands of executive chef Tuomas Heikkinen, 7.30pm on March 19. Dh325, includes a three-course organic menu with paired beverages. Call 04-3118316 or email dbi.fbconcierge@fairmont.com.
- Candlelit dinner at The Farm, Al Barari, 7pm on March 19. The evening begins with a hypnotherapy session hosted by founder of Biolite Aesthetic Clinic, Dr Mona Mirza, followed by dinner in the heart of the green oasis. Call 04-3925660.
- The Sheraton Grand Hotel will be turning off lights in common areas from 8.30-9.30pm and instead use candlelight. Feast restaurant will have eco-friendly dishes made using products that respect the earth. Healthy sustainable snacks will be available in the hotel’s lobby. Call 04-5034444.
- Towers Rotana has a glow-in-the-dark party at Longs Bar, 50 per cent discount on selected beverages, music by the resident DJ. Teatro will serve a candlelit dinner, while Bodylines Rooftop Pool area will have yoga under the stars conducted by Guruji Sanjeev Krishnan from Rhythm Yoga (offered to in-house guests and Bodylines Fitness Centre members only). Call 04-3438000.
- Sheraton Dubai, Mall of The Emirates will be turning off its lights; Vantage Bar situated on the fifth floor of the hotel, will offer guests free canapes under the stars, on the candlelit terrace of the venue; the food comes from a sustainable menu.
- Jannah Marina Bay Suites has an hour-long acoustic concert by Dubai-based indie folk music duo Nowhere Birds (Jules Suarez and Mitchiko Bagayna), free entry. Call 800-JANNAH.
Sharjah:
- Bee’ah is celebrating Earth Hour 2016 through activities and workshops for all age groups to promote Earth Hour and raise awareness.
SOURCE: tabloid! and EWS-WWF
