Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched its ‘Shine a light on Climate Action campaign, to raise awareness about the dangers of the increasing effects of climate change. The campaign was launched by DEWA in preparation for Earth Hour 2016 and supports the Green Economy for Sustainable Development Initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to transform the Emirate into a role model and a global hub for green economy.

The campaign was launched as part of Earth Hour 2016 in Dubai, and is being organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, in partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS), in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and in cooperation with Dubai Properties Group. The event will take place at Bay Avenue Park in Business Bay, Dubai.

The campaign highlights the negative effects of climate change, emphasises the importance of the rational use of electricity and water, draws attention to the positive effects that come as a result of collective environmental efforts, and importance of our individual efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, limiting the effects of global warming.

DEWA encourages all organisations and individuals to support the campaign via social media, and donate through Facebook from 16to 19 March 2016. The campaign also encourages individuals to contribute towards preserving the environment and natural resources, while making the rational use of electricity and water services by following simple steps as part of their daily lives.

In support of the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to achieve a balance between development, and the environment, preserving the rights of future generations, to live in a clean, healthy, and safe environment, and as part of our vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, we organise Earth Hour in Dubai to support global efforts to limit pollution and find sustainable solutions to the increasing effects of global warming and climate change. The awareness campaign was launched to comply with our development objectives and strategic plans to enhance environmental sustainability in Dubai, in line with the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD & CEO of DEWA.

“The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a major contributor to achieving the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. Launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in November 2015, the strategy aims to provide 7% of Dubai’s energy from clean energy sources by 2020. This target will increase to 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050,” added Al Tayer.

Al Tayer noted that by launching initiatives to reduce electricity and water use, DEWA managed to save 1344 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, and 5.6 billion imperial gallons of water. Saving AED 841 million, and limiting carbon dioxide emissions by over 714,000 tonnes.

Al Tayer also noted that the UAE was one of the first countries in the international community to support tackling the growing issue of climate change. The UAE is also one of the first nations to have endorsed the extension of the Kyoto protocol in 2005, to limit greenhouse gases in industrial countries, in addition to being the first country in the region to sign the Copenhagen Accord to limit emissions, at COP15. DEWA was part of the UAE delegation participating in COP21 in Paris, in 2015.

At COP21, world leaders made an international agreement to defeat climate change and its increasing effects.