Lights go off across the UAE to mark Earth Hour

A global movement, millions of people turned off their lights and hosted events between 8.30pm and 9.30pm in their local times to increase the Earth Hour message about climate change.

The Burj Khalifa was looking a lot darker than usual as lights were switched off for Earth Hour on Saturday. AFP
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Residents and businesses across the country took part in Earth Hour festivities on Saturday evening by switching off their lights for 60 minutes.

A global movement, millions of people turned off their lights and hosted events between 8.30pm and 9.30pm in their local times to increase the Earth Hour message about climate change.

From street lights in Dubai to Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi, landmarks across the UAE joined in.

Abu Dhabi City Municipality said it supported the cause and switched off lights in buildings across the capital.

“Decorative lighting on Sheikh Zayed Bridge was switched off in a show of celebration of the Earth Hour event,” Musabbah Al Murar, acting general manager at the municipality said.

“Abu Dhabi uses the latest lighting systems in the streets (LED) and has launched an energy management project to save power and cut water consumption.”

Employees of Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation put their commitment in black and white and signed a pledge to save water and not waste food.

“We encouraged all our employees and clients to be part of this movement. We urged them also to invite their friends and colleagues to join the efforts. This stems from our belief that it is important to face the environmental challenges collectively,” said Ahmad bin Shafar, chief executive of Empower.

The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai switched off 1,393 street lights during Earth Hour.

“In celebrations at Bay Avenue Park, 1,393 light poles were turned off to save about 382.95 kilowatts in one hour alone in the Business Street and others near the venue in Business Bay, Al Saada Street and the Boulevard Street at Burj Khalifa Downtown district,” said Nasser Bu Shehab, chief of RTA’s strategy and corporate governance sector.

The director of Sustainable City Dubai said efforts to save the environment needed more than an hour a year to succeed.

“Energy conservation by switching off lights is becoming insignificant by time. Earth Hour is symbolic and an important day which should be a reminder to us that it is our moral obligation 365 days a year to be sustainable,” said Karim Al Jisr, director of The Diamond Innovation Centre at Sustainable City.

He highlighted the issue of light pollution and that lights in many buildings were left on throughout the night, when offices and workplaces were empty.

That had to change, he said.

“Dubai is a very strong example of a light polluter because most building lights are left on through the night, and while it may look attractive, it is very disturbing in many ways,” Mr Al Jisr said.

“Office building managers should look at the impact of leaving their lights on. There is a debate over shifting to efficient LED lights but the main issue still stands – there is still energy consumption and there is light pollution.

“There are two ways of approaching this, either behavioural change or through technology.

“There needs to be a strong corporate policy and campaign to educate and remind people to switch of all lights by the end of their day in offices. Even cleaning staff should be taught to do the same,” he said.

mmannan@thenational.ae