UAE- DEWA organises Carbon Neutral initiative for Earth Hour

DUBAI 15th March 2016 (WAM) -- In cooperation with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence DCCE Dubai Electricity and Water Authority DEWA has launched the Carbon Neutral initiative to neutralise all carbon emissions during Earth Hour.

This will be achieved by adopting the Clean Development Mechanism CDM across all DEWA projects based on the Kyoto protocol which is directly linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Earth Hour in Dubai is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council and will take place on 19th March 2016. The event is organised by DEWA in partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Emirates Wildlife Society EWS in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature WWF and in cooperation with Dubai Properties Group.

DEWA aims to reduce carbon emissions by scheduling the event to take place during the time period in which people would usually be travelling in carbon-emitting vehicles such as planes or cars resulting in a zero-carbon emissions.

"Earth Hour is an annual event organised by DEWA in line with the directives of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Through the Carbon Neutral initiative DEWA strives to achieve its vision of becoming a sustainable innovative world-class utility. DEWA has become a regional pioneer for protecting natural resources and reducing carbon emissions using the CDM to provide a better future for generations to come" said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer Vice-Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD and CEO of DEWA.

He added "DEWA's commitment to reducing carbon emissions has been adopted as part of our environmental strategy which focuses on limiting emissions and providing a clean environment for the people of Dubai. One of the most important projects in this field is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park which is the largest single-site solar energy project in the world based on the independent power producer model."

Al Tayer said the the solar park will produce 5000MW by 2030 and will help achieve a reduction of approximately 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. "We continuously launch awareness programmes and other creative initiatives to encourage all society to adopt positive practices as part of their daily lives such as the rational use of electricity and water and making an effort to reduce carbon emissions. During Earth Hour 2015 DEWA managed to save about 305 megawatts (MW) of electricity and saw an overall reduction of about 183 tonnes in carbon emissions."

Waleed Salman Chairman of DCCE said "DCCE supports DEWA's strategy to improve environmental preservation and limit carbon emissions. This strategy features a framework to improve local energy projects in line with the Dubai Sustainable Development Strategy. We also exert all efforts to enhance support and organise carbon neutral Earth Hour activities. We are committed to developing this partnership to organise further activities in the future."