Over a billion people around the world acted in unison to commemorate Earth Day on Wednesday. Though it was a well-intended symbolic initiative, the sad reality is that a day's action (or even one hour) cannot and will not, offset the huge impact that we have upon the environment. Nor will it make a lasting difference to an issue as pressing as climate change. However, in the spirit of such a global campaign, I urge all of us to make a lasting commitment beyond that of Earth Day or Earth Hour and join Heroes of the UAE (www.heroesoftheuae.ae).
Heroes of the UAE is a platform encouraging action everyday to combat climate change by saving energy and using natural resources more wisely. Moving beyond intent to action and participation.
The challenge lies in 'walking the talk' and implementing simple actions on a daily basis, which together will make a huge difference. This requires participation across every level of society - individuals, businesses and government.
The Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF) and the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, is addressing this through the 'Heroes' campaign. Created to tackle our high ecological footprint, rising demand for energy and climate change, this campaign aims to inspire people in the UAE to save energy and be less wasteful in their consumption of natural resources.
Why should we care? The world is facing an ecological credit crunch. We are using natural resources (energy, timber, fibre, food, fish) faster than our planet can replace them. And unlike the economic crisis, when nature goes bankrupt, there is no bailout!
In the UAE we have the highest per capita ecological footprint on Earth (with 80 per cent of our footprint due to carbon dioxide emissions, mainly from energy consumption).
In footprint terms, if everyone lived like an average UAE resident, we would need 4.5 planets to supply our demand for natural resources. The UAE is also the fifth largest per-capita consumer of energy in the world - seven times the global average - and due to rapid growth and development, the country will soon face an energy crunch.
Climate change also has other severe impacts, with the UAE expected to see scarcer freshwater, hotter summers, more intense storms, flooding and rising sea levels.
It is believed that more than 20 per cent of electricity consumption in UAE households is simply wasted. Therefore saving energy through personal behavioural change is a crucial step and the 'Heroes' campaign highlights simple energy actions that we can implement at home or in the office.
These actions make no difference to our 'lifestyles' but do require repetition and just some thought to make a daily habit, such as turning off water heaters when we go out. Or to turn the air-conditioner up by 2-3 degrees, to use energy efficient light bulbs that last ten times longer, to switch appliances off at the plug and by running our washing machines at a 30-degree cycle.
Implementing these tips saves money. An average two-bedroom apartment could save as much as Dh2,200 per year, with even greater savings possible in larger dwellings.
The business community also has a crucial role to play. Our campaign will encourage them to adopt practices to lower their energy consumption and carbon footprint. It makes sound economic and environmental sense for the business community to combat climate change.
Encouraging steps are also being taken by UAE federal and local governments through initiatives such as green building codes, renewable energy via the Masdar initiative, development of public transport systems and the bid to host the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).
The campaign will develop with time and highlight that no matter who you are or where you are, at school, the office or at home, each one of us has the opportunity to make a positive and measurable contribution.
Tools and outlets are being provided to educate and inspire people throughout the UAE to take part, including educational information on the website; an opportunity to pledge to join a community of committed energy savers; case studies that document how people and communities are reducing their carbon footprint; as well as public events, such as lectures and workshops.
The website's unique online carbon calculator allows people to calculate their household carbon footprint and provides specific energy saving recommendations and equivalent financial savings.
Confucius wrote; "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and I urge all of us to take this first step and join heroesoftheuae.ae. The power is in your hands - save energy, save our future.
Razan Al Mubarak is the Managing Director of EWS-WWF, a UAE environmental NGO working at the federal level in association with WWF to implement conservation actions for the protection of local biodiversity.
