Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, has urged employees and the wider UAE community to pledge their support for this year’s ‘Earth Hour’ taking place at 20:30 local time on Saturday, March 19.

Launched in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour invites people and businesses to turn off their lights for 60 minutes to save energy, lower carbon emissions and raise awareness of the importance of joint action to mitigate climate change.

A long-standing participant in Earth Hour, Masdar will switch off the lights at Masdar City – Abu Dhabi’s flagship sustainable urban development and knowledge & innovation hub – to mark the occasion this year.

Masdar’s CEO has urged staff and residents to also play their part at home on Saturday, turning off lights and household appliances for the full 60 minutes.

“Masdar is taking part in Earth Hour to reinforce the message that mitigating climate change can only be achieved through joint action and the spirit of collaboration,” he said. “As a template for sustainable urban development, and as a hub for the innovation and commercialization of more sustainable technologies, Masdar City is naturally the focus of our participation this year.”

Mr Al Ramahi added that the annual Zayed Future Energy Prize also showcases the UAE’s commitment to sustainability.

To date, the Prize’s award winners have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by a combined 887 million metric tons and enabled 100 million people to use energy more efficiently, saving 65 million MWh of electricity.

“Initiatives led by the Prize’s recipients have also given 14 million children of school age, who previously had no access to electricity, the chance to study at night using affordable renewable energy technologies such as solar lanterns,” said Dr Nawal Al Hosany, Director of the Zayed Future Energy Prize and Masdar’s Director of Sustainability.

“Earth Hour contributes to raising community awareness of the importance of conserving energy and protecting our environment, and the impact each of us can have as individuals,” she added.

The UAE was among the first Arab countries to participate in Earth Hour, staging large-scale events every year.

 

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