UAE Earth Hour: Sustaining Earth is a fundamental principle in our policies, says Mohammed

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Dubai in particular ensured its many iconic structures went dark or dimmed lights to save the planet.

Speaking about the UAE’s involvement in the Earth Hour campaign, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai yesterday tweeted from his official Twitter account: “Sustaining our Earth remains a fundamental principle in our policies. Next generations have the right to inherit a clean & safe environment.”

His Highness also said on Twitter:  “The unity of nations and people in addressing the challenges of Climate Change, is the best and shortest path in maintaining the Earth's climate.”

Emaar joined hands with the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, the organisers of the event in Dubai, in partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, the Emirates Wildlife Society and the World Wide Fund for Nature, to mark Earth Hour this year.

Click to see: Hour the World went dark for the Earth

The highlight of the event was the ‘Earth Hour Walk’ which started at Burj Plaza in Downtown Dubai, Emaar’s flagship mega-development that overlooks Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

The organisers of Earth Hour and representatives of government and private sector entities took part in the annual walk held from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall, Souk Al Bahar, Gold & Diamond Park and The Address Hotels + Resorts, all observed Earth Hour by switching off all non-essential external and internal lighting and appliances.

The performance of The Dubai Fountain, the world’s tallest performing fountain, will only re-commence after Earth Hour.

Other key landmarks like the Hilton, Fairmont and Raffles Hotels in Dubai, along with the Sheikh Zayed Bridge, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Etihad Towers, amongst others in the capital, all took part.

Majid Al Futtaim Properties’ six shopping malls across the UAE also stepped up to go dark.

All non-essential lights such as external signage, building facade, external landscaping and office lights were be turned off at Ajman City Centre, Deira City Centre, Fujairah City Centre, Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre and Sharjah City Centre.

Dubai Municipality also confirmed that lights to most of its buildings were dimmed.

Ski Dubai turned off the lights and illuminated the venue with candle torches lining the ski slope to create the illusion of a candle descent, culminating into a faux camp fire at the bottom of the slope.

Numerous Ski Dubai instructors were fitted out in glow-in-the-dark uniforms customised for the occasion.

Beyond the hour

EWS-WWF reps say there are a number of ways people can go beyond the hour by adopting a more sustainable lifestyle by reducing energy consumption and water consumption:

• Try leaving your car at home a few times a week and hop on the Metro, bus, walk or use your bicycle
• Get a reusable water bottle and pledge to stop using disposable plastic bottles
• Replace a meaty meal or two each week with a vegetarian option and you will help lower carbon emissions
• Look for sustainable fish options and contribute to healthier oceans. If you are in the UAE, you can use the Choose Wisely consumer fish guide (choosewisely.ae) to help you select more sustainable options
• Replace your regular bulbs with energy saving light bulbs. They are much more efficient and last up to 10 times longer
• Set your air conditioning to 2-3 degrees higher than you normally do. You’ll hardly notice the difference, but it will make a difference to your energy use
• Use a bucket not a hose when washing your car. You will save up to 180 litres of water per wash
• When brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing vegetables or dishes, remember to switch the tap off. You will save up to 34 litres each time
• Go native and choose local plants, as they need less water and do better in the UAE climate.

The World goes dark

Hundreds of millions of people across the globe also turned off their lights for the 60 minutes on Saturday night -- at 8:30pm local time -- in a symbolic show of support for the planet.

Many of the world's most iconic attractions, including Sydney Opera House, the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower took part.
Last year more than 150 countries participated in the event which saw some of the world's most iconic landmarks dim, and this year the movement has spread to Palestine, Tunisia, Suriname and Rwanda.

Newcomers to be plunged into darkness include Copenhagen's Little Mermaid, the statue of David in Florence and Cape Town's Table Mountain.
Sydney's lights out were followed by the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, the Bird's Nest in Beijing, and the Burj Khalifa.

In China, Shanghai's famous Bund turned off its lights while in the central city of Wuhan, the Yangtze River bridge was plunged into darkness.
In Japan, daily illuminations of the city's signature Tokyo Tower were switched off, with visitors able to pedal bicycles to generate power to illuminate an egg-shaped art work.

In Japan's northeast local residents are set to light candles to both show support for the campaign and mourn victims of the 2011 quake-tsunami disaster, organisers said.
In Singapore, the affluent city-state's skyline darkened for one hour from 8:30pm (1230 GMT) as more than 100 buildings take part, while Hong Kong's famous skyline will also dim..

Earth Hour will also see famous landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, London's Buckingham Palace and Niagara Falls take part.

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