The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah, celebrated Earth Hour by turning off the lights in the Emirate, for an hour between 8:30 and 9:30pm, with the participation of more than 20 governmental and private agencies and universities which also switched off all lights in their buildings. The Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority and the Sharjah Police Headquarterscontributed to the success of the event.

 

in cooperation with the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority, it was announced that 26 megawatts of energy were saved and the equivalent of 15.6 tons of carbon emissions were reduced during participation in the Earth Hour event.

 

Addressing the challenges facing the planet

Her Excellency Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority in Sharjah, said: “The idea of Earth Hour is to preserve the environment and to also spread awareness of the challenges our planet faces, such as climate change and global warming. Earth Hour is a global event where individuals are encouraged to turn off all electricity and lights for one hour from 8.30-9.30pm on the last Saturday of March every year.”

She pointed out that the Environment and Protected Areas Authority is keen to celebrate Earth Hour every year, to spread environmental awareness among members of society and support global efforts aimed at protecting the planet. This year’s celebration came under the slogan “speak up for nature”, which invites all members of the community to participate by recording educational clips and publishing them alongside the hashtag #EarthHour.

His Excellency Saeed Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority stated that the authority’s initiative, in cooperation with the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, to organize and participate in Earth Hour event, and to invite government departments, private sector institutions and all individuals to participate in that event aims to solidarity with global initiatives to urge individuals, institutions and departments to promote collective action on the importance of awareness about the phenomenon of global warming and the use of natural resources in a more conscious manner, and it also aims to raise awareness of environmental dangers as a result of wasteful use of energy and lack of optimal use of these resources and to encourage rationalization of energy consumption and reduce environmental impacts, which contributes to a decrease in the level of carbon emissions, that the authority places among its priorities the preservation of the environment in all projects it implements. His Excellency explained that participating in the World Earth Hour event, organized annually by the World wildlife Fund, extinguishing lighting and unnecessary electrical appliances, contributed to the development of awareness of the importance of saving energy, reducing the volume of gas emissions resulting from global warming and achieving a high rate of energy savings, stressing that the authority is implementing many among the programs for environmental awareness and awareness of all segments of society about the importance of rationalizing energy and water consumption.

For his part, Engineer Adnan Al Hosani, in charge of the work, the Director of the Control Department, confirmed that the authority participated this year in Earth Hour in exceptional circumstances under the precautionary measures and the loads were monitored during the Earth Hour celebration through the control centre to know the quantities of electricity that were saved during the lights off in some areas and to announce them, so that consumers are aware of the importance of rationalizing energy consumption and preserving the environment, and drawing their attention to the importance of cooperation with the authority in preserving vital resources and not wasting them. He explained that the lights were turned off in some vital landmarks and streets in more than 64 areas in the Emirate of Sharjah, in addition to the lighting of parks and a number of mosques in all areas of the Emirate of Sharjah during Earth Hour.

His Excellency Major General Saif Al-Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police Headquarters, affirmed that the leadership’s participation in this global celebration comes from its keenness to support all local and international efforts that would help protect the planet, contribute to the sustainability of its resources and enhance the quality of life on it. This came when the Sharjah Police Headquarters participated in the annual global celebration of “Earth Hour”, which falls on the last Saturday of the month of March of each year, as it rationalized electrical energy consumption in a number of its facilities and buildings, and secured sites and landmarks that were extinguished to turn off the lights in them in various cities and regions of the Emirate of Sharjah. The Sharjah Police Headquarters indicated that the leadership would play its assigned role in this celebration, by securing its patrols throughout all neighborhoods and regions of the Emirate of Sharjah, as it secured vital sites and prominent landmarks in the emirate, in addition to a number of areas, residential neighborhoods, and main and subsidiary streets after they were completed. Turn off and reduce the lights in it during the event, and encourage public and private institutions to adopt positive initiatives and ideas that promote rationalization of energy consumption, and face climate change and global warming

Earth Hour

Earth Hour is more than just an hour; it is a call towards a better way of life and a sustainable future. It is also an opportunity to spread a message of inspiration, solidarity, teamwork and motivation. Earth Hour is a global event organized by World Wildlife Federation (WWF), through which countries and institutions contribute to saving energy and protecting the natural resources of our planet. The Environment and Protected Areas Authority is looking to build a better future for generations to come, by allowing them to benefit from sustainable resources.