(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Dubai joined 7,000 other cities around the world and went dark for an hour on Saturday night at 8.30, switching off lights and power and cutting down on the use of desalinated water, which causes enormous emissions of carbon.
The save-the-environment event marked the ninth annual Earth Hour, expected to be observed in 162 countries.
The Burj Khalifa well lit before Earth Hour on Saturday and the iconic building after the lights were switched off. - KT Photos by Leslie Pableo
The largest infinity mirror that is lit by LED lamps won the Guinness World Record.
Hundreds of young people drawn from SynergY student group and other local environmental organisations and government bodies gathered in Dubai's Bay Area Park in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa to mark the event under the theme "Use Your Power to Change Climate Change". Booths were set up here designed to educate the public about environmental issues and the UAE's cultural heritage.
Every drop counts
Time your shower to be five minutes or less. Taking even a minute or two off your shower time can save up to 680 litres per month
Wash fruits and vegetables in a pan and not under running water
Don't use running water to thaw food, defrost it instead
Turn off the tap when you lather your hands while washing
A drip of leaking water every second adds up to 20 litres per day
Use a dishwasher only when it is fully loaded to save water
Check toilets for leaks every year as they tend to be silent
Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, you can save up to 15 litres a minute
Source: Federal Electricity and Water Authority
"As a youth living in Dubai, and an environmentalist, I understand the situation and crisis that the world is facing today with increased energy demands and depleting energy resources," SynergY founder Simran Vedvyas said. "By participating in Earth Hour in Dubai, we join to support the international efforts which aim at minimising carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, and environmental pollution, providing sustainable solutions for global warming and climate change, as well as protecting the environment and preserving natural resources for generations to come".
Earth Hour is especially relevant in the UAE, which has some of the highest per capita consumption rates of water and energy in the world.
According to statistics from Federal Electricity and Water Authority (Fewa), the average resident of the UAE resident consumes 550 litres per day, compared to the global average of between 170 and 300 litres. In terms of electricity, locals consume 20-30 KHw per day, more than twice the global average of between seven and 15.
Rohan Naidu of the World Wildlife Fund said it was important to educate local residents about how to alter their behaviour to benefit the environment.
"A thousand people taking a bath has the same carbon footprint of driving from Dubai to Prague, return trip," he said. "We're trying to teach people that some of the things they do are harmful to the earth. People need to change their lifestyles. If we teach them now we can change sustainability practices."
Naidu also noted that the WWF estimates that one automatic car wash has the same carbon footprint as driving from Abu Dhabi to Dubai 25 times.
Pragna Vasupal, a young member of the Green Hope student environmental group, said that educating young people is the key to sustainability in years to come.
"Young people are the future," she said. "We're responsible for what comes next. If we teach people now, we can focus on sustainability and carbon footprint in the future."
The event at Bay Park was one of several held across the UAE to mark the occasion. Over the 24 days leading up to Earth Hour, for example, non-essential lights at Dubai and Al Maktoum International Airports were switched off, saving an estimated 230,000 KHw of electricity € enough to power an average home for the next 15 years.
Other Earth Hour power saving events took place at Oasis Mall in Dubai, the Sharjah Corniche and at Al Ain Zoo.
As part of the event, a Guinness World Record was set by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) with the unveiling of the world's largest infinity mirror lit up by LED lamps.
The infinity mirror, measuring 7sqm, is a 'set of reflective glass and mirrors layered with a message in a reclusive manner that recedes into an infinite distance'.
Sameer Khallouf, Project Manager Mena at Guinness World Records, Dubai, handed over the certificate to Dewa CEO and Managing Director Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer. A walkathon 'in the dark' was also organised as part of the event.
During last year's Earth Hour, Dubai saved 255,000 MWh, a 22 per cent increase from 2013, as well as 153 tonnes of carbone dioxide emissions. Globally, over a billion people participated.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.