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Earth Hour in the emirate was held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the Chairman of Dubai Executive Council and in partnership with The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (SCE) and Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS) in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in cooperation with Emaar.

DEWA also announced that Earth Hour celebrations held at Burj Plaza witnessed the largest gathering of people coming together in support of the preservation of natural resources.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the SCE and MD and CEO of DEWA inaugurated the Earth Hour 2012 walk in the presence of Khalid Al Malik, CEO, Dubai Properties Group and Lieutenant Colonel, General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs, Dubai and Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson Emirates Environment Group and Eng. Nazim Faisal Ali Saeed, Director, Roads & Structures Maintenance Dept., Traffic and Roads Agency, RTA.

Confirming the values of savings achieved HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, announced that DEWA would honour its Earth Hour challenge set to the Dubai community in which the Authority promised to organize a fund-raising ‘Victory Walk’ on World Earth Day with proceeds raised donated to an environmental cause such as the sponsorship of a UAE national high school graduate to study a specialized bachelor degree in renewable energy.

Commenting on the Earth Hour achievements, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer Managing Director and CEO of DEWA said; “Dubai has celebrated its commitment to the betterment of our planet Earth and shown the world our leadership in the preservation of our natural resources by achieving the highest saving rates in the emirate to date. In return, DEWA will now present its challenges to the community and DEWA employees in accordance with our announcements in support of the Global Earth Hour campaign ‘I will, if you will – dare the world, save the planet’ by furthering renewable energy education and marine wildlife with the objective of initiating a lasting change in behaviour.”

Earth Hour celebrations in the emirate were led by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) with an entertaining family event held at Emaar’s Burj Plaza starting at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday 31st March. During the festivities visitors enjoyed the many eco-attractions and games for children, neon artistes, magicians and music. At 8:30 p.m. HE Saeed Al Tayer, accompanied by VIP’s, fellow Government Departments, educational Institutions including The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and residents from across Dubai, leading the Earth Hour walk from Burj Plaza past the magnificent Burj Khalifa stood in darkness.

Dubai was the first Arab city to participate in Earth Hour in 2008 and has continued to increase the participation and passion for the Earth Hour cause in the emirate. In 2008 Dubai’s participation saved 100,000 kW/h and reduced 60,000 kg of carbon dioxide emissions. In 2009 the percentages increased, to save 146,000 kW/h and 88,000 kg of carbon dioxide emissions and savings increased further following the 2010 Earth Hour celebrations saving 170,000 kW/h and reducing carbon emissions by 102,000 kg. In 2011 Earth Hour savings reached 204,000 kW/h and 122 kg carbon emissions.

Earth Hour is one of over 20 initiatives implemented by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority to educate its customers and the community on the importance of conservation of the environment and building a sustainable future for the emirate by using utilities in a rational manner.

Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when more than 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights out for one hour to take a stand against climate change. The initiative quickly evolved to become a global environmental movement of solidarity in which millions of people across the world recognized the importance of protecting the planet.