Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Celebrates World Environment Day and Lends Support to the Green Ribbon Campaign
DEWA joins global efforts aimed educating societies on environmental status quo
As part of its ongoing commitment in participating in major global activities aimed at raising the environmental awareness, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced today that it had joined the international efforts on the occasion of World Environment Day held on the 5th of June each year. The World Environment Day slogan selected for 2007 is ‘Melting Ice – a Hot Topic?’ in support of the International Polar Year, the World Environment Day theme selected for 2007 focuses on the effects that climate change is having on polar ecosystems and communities, and the ensuing consequences around the world.
This year DEWA is promoting the Green Ribbon Pledge, a new global initiative to conserve energy for a secure future. By encouraging energy efficiency, the campaign seeks to raise awareness about the need to end our dangerous dependence on fossil fuel consumption and work toward a sustainable future. All DEWA staff will be wearing a green ribbon to express their support to the environment.
“We felt compelled to participate in this constructive and important annual event, and to contribute, not only on this day, but throughout the year, in the global efforts carried out to educate societies on the current environmental status”, said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. “International studies and statistics have revealed that the temperature of the Earth was at its highest in 2005, and this figure is expected to increase in the near future. Therefore we must combine local, regional and international efforts, and take serious steps to control this worrying phenomenon”.
During World Environment Day, DEWA will educate UAE nationals and residents on the environmental threats, and will provide them with a list of simple procedures any individual can take that would cut down on energy consumption, which is one of the main reasons for global warming. DEWA has also invited its staff to watch the 2006 Academy Award-winning documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ as the movie focuses mainly on the issue of global warming and the severe consequences that may follow. The authority also distributed the movie to several other governmental organizations to spread the message across.
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority also combined forces with several other entities to distribute educational flyers amongst nationals and residents in Dubai, containing important but simple tips for individuals to reduce energy consumption and emissions. DEWA teamed up with EPCO and ENOC stations to distribute the flyers and brochures at 70 of its outlets, in addition to the Union CO-OP grocery stores to distribute educational information at 7 of its outlets in Dubai.
“More than 51,000 people have joined the Green Ribbon Campaign so far. Today we proudly wear the green ribbon to express our support to such global initiatives and apply them on a local scale”, said Amal Koshak, Deputy Manager, Demand Manage at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
“We have taken upon us the duty of educating our societies on the importance of conserving our resources and exerting our utmost efforts in instilling the culture of conservation. Therefore, we call on all citizens to join us in our efforts and conserve your water and electricity for a better future”, added Koshak.
World Environment Day is World Environment Day is the United Nations flagship environmental event, celebrated every year on 5 June in more than 100 countries around the world. It was established in 1972 by the United Nations General Assembly and its commemoration is entrusted to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The purpose of World Environment Day is to focus worldwide attention on the importance of the environment and stimulate political attention and action. The event seeks to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure that all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
Interest in World Environment Day is growing each year, as evidenced by the number of countries, which lend their support to this important United Nations Day, by the expanding list of municipalities, businesses, and communities that participate, and by the hundreds of thousands of individuals who visit UNEP’s World Environment Day web site.
