Earth Hour: Watch Expo 2020 Dubai switch off lights to mark awareness event

Several pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai switched off their lights in solidarity with Earth Hour on Saturday. This year’s Earth Hour was held under the theme ‘Shape Our Future.’ 

Earth Hour is an iconic global movement initiated by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2007 aimed at raising awareness for climate change and nature loss. Emirates Nature-WWF (the regional representative for WWF) said 60 pavilions participated in a symbolic switch off at intervals of one minute.

An ‘Earth Hour Switch Off Parade’ also took place at the Expo site, led by the Dubai Police Marching Band.

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“It is apt to have carried out this year’s event at Expo 2020 Dubai as it embodies the UAE’s vision of being at the forefront of sustainable development through innovation,” Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, director-general of Emirates Nature-WWF, said, ia statement sent to Gulf News after the event.

“Although Expo 2020 is coming to an end [on March 31], the legacy of what has been built – the ideas, cooperation, and symbolism of the world in one place looking towards a prosperous future where people and planet collaboratively thrive – illuminates how we must move forward.

“We’ve received overwhelming support this year from corporate entities, individuals from all across the country and the youth of our nation. Their participation and involvement have supplemented our belief that we’re on the right track to truly shape our future. Our message to everyone is that this is just the beginning. It’s time to go ‘beyond the hour’ and become a true leader of change,” she added.

Also Read | Earth Hour: Cities worldwide mark the occasion by dimming lights

Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, was observed the Earth Hour. 

Other UAE landmarks, including the Sheikh Zayed Great Mosque in Abu Dhabi, also went dark between 8:30 — 9:30pm local time.

Meanwhile, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) said that from 2008 up to 2021, Earth Hour-Dubai has achieved cumulative savings of up to 3.12 GWh of electricity and reduced 1,607 tonnes of carbon emissions.

In 2022, DEWA recorded savings of 329 megawatts in electricity consumption in the Emirate during Earth Hour 2022, equivalent to a reduction of 132 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission.

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DEWA said Dubai is the first Arab city to participate in Earth Hour, “reflecting the emirate’s keenness to raise awareness of the danger of carbon dioxide emissions to limit consumption levels and waste of resources.”