Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Implements a Papers Recycling Project on the Occasion of Earth Day
1500 Emarat station staff distribute brochures and green ribbons to customers and put on Earth Day caps and t-shirts and
In line with its regular participation in local, regional and international environmental events, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority celebrates Earth Day on 22 April 2008. The Authority has organized various activities, most important of which is a papers recycling project at its Customer ٍServices Office in Al Hudaiba, for a period of 1 year. The Authority’s is concerned with environment because it represents the basis of sustainable development, where Dubai is making huge strides, in accordance with the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The world celebrates Earth Day on 22 April every year, to show solidarity with the earth in the face of climatic changes witnessed worldwide, most importantly global warming, which is considered to have the biggest impact on the environment. This phenomenon leads to melting of ice, retreat of glaciers, rising sea levels, and changes in the levels and distribution of rain resulting in floods, dryness, and extreme fluctuations in weather conditions. Marking this day first started in 1970 in the USA, and has today spread to most countries in the world. Last year over 1 billion individuals celebrated this day.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority strives to preserve the environment in all of its operations, since it implements the best practices known worldwide in the field of the environment. Water and electricity conservation campaigns, which the Authority has been carrying out for years, are one of the prominent signs of the Authority’s vision for saving the environment from detrimental effects. Any task, whether big or small, results in lowering the reliance on energy, contributes to protecting Earth.
The Authority has put in place various activities to mark Earth Day 2008, most significant of which is a trial project for paper recycling at Customers Services Office- Al Hudaiba, in cooperation with a TADWEER company. The aim of this program is to offer a practical method where employees can help in protecting earth through recycling paper, which consumes vast amounts of water and electricity in its initial production.
The Authority, in collaboration with Emirates Petrol, has organized an awareness campaign to familiarize the community with Earth Day, during which 1500 employees of Emarat in Dubai will be wearing t-shirts and caps with the Earth Day logo. The staff of these stations across Dubai will also be distributing awareness brochures, as well as green ribbons, to activate the green ribbon pledge campaign which aims at reducing consumption for a safer future, and reduce dependence on fuels and energy, in addition to an invite to submit a pledge to at: www.greenribbonpledge.com.
The green ribbons will also be distributed at all DEWA offices to all staff and customers as well as some of Dubai Government departments.
Other activities that will be carried out to celebrate this day is sending out emails to all employees of government organizations to remind them of Earth day and to urge everyone to participate, including SMS to DEWA customers.
On this occasion, HE Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority said: “Studies and research conducted by local authorities concerning the environment and climatic changes show rising levels in global warming year after year, which will eventually lead to extreme climatic changes, most importantly ice melting, rising sea levels and fluctuations in weather conditions in many areas, which will result in cyclones, floods, and residents forced to leave their homes.”
His Excellency added: “We appreciate all organizations who have collaborated with us in organizing activities for Earth Day 2008, and giving importance to this event through their participation. We hope that the events organized by the Authority on this day receive a positive response from the community in Dubai, and encourages them to conserve water and electricity.”
Following simple steps can greatly aid in conserving electricity, therefore protecting our environment. For example, using stairs instead of elevators to reach bottom level floors, walking to the mosque or when going for to buy simple errands instead of taking the car, and setting the A/C thermostats to a suitable temperature (24C), are all measures that will help in conserving energy.
Eng. Amal Koshak, Manager Investor Services at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority said: “It is our hands, earth citizens, to help in lowering global warming through cutting back on our use of fuels and electricity consumption, in an effort to lower the emission of gases that cause global warming, which results in turn the rise of the earth’s temperature.”
“In our view, the conservation of water and electricity comes foremost in what we can implement in our homes, offices and shops to lower our reliance on energy, and to aid in protecting our environment and earth.”
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority celebrated Earth Day last year through organizing a workshop held in collaboration with the Knowledge & Human Development Authority, targeting heads of government department, under the slogan “Sustainable Consumption and the Environment”, where the opening speech was delivered by His Excellency the Minister of Environment and Water.
