Dubai saves 323MW in electricity consumption during Earth Hour 2018

Dubai has achieved significant results in reducing its electricity use and carbon emissions during Earth Hour 2018. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) recorded savings of 323 megawatts (MW) in electricity consumption in Dubai, a 32% further reduction compared to last year. This is equivalent to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 140 tonnes.

Dubai residents joined millions of people around the world in expressing their solidarity with efforts to address the threats posed by global warming and climate change, and raising awareness about pressing environmental issues. This was done by turning off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances during Earth Hour 2018, which the world observed from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on Saturday, under the theme ‘Connect to Earth.’ Dubai’s landmarks, tourist and government buildings also took part in the event by turning off their lights for an hour.

For the third consecutive year, DEWA continues to offset the carbon emissions from Earth Hour activities, this is done by exchanging the emissions resulting from organising Earth Hour 2018 in Dubai for Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) credits from DEWA’s projects, based on the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Earth Hour is one of the biggest public movements in the world. It aims to protect the environment from climate change. It is celebrated on the last Saturday of March every year, a day close to the spring equinox, when night and day are nearly the same length, so this will ensure participation of most cities around the world.

Earth Hour was first organised in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. It was launched by the WWF. About 2.2 million people and more than 2,000 organisations took part in switching off lights and unnecessary electrical appliances for one hour to take a united stand to preserve the planet. It quickly expanded into a global solidarity movement with 178 countries, and around 10,000 cities around the world, with 1.8 billion people who believe in the importance of protecting the planet from harmful emissions and Greenhouse Gases.