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19 March 2014
| Last updated on 3 March 2016
Earth Hour: Shine a Light on Climate Action
From skylines to timelines, Earth Hour shines a light on climate action!
Following a landmark year for climate, Emirates Wildlife Society – WWF is calling on people in the UAE to take climate action by switching off their lights for one hour and switching on their social power by donating their social feeds to Earth Hour. Earth Hour 2016 will be celebrated on Saturday, 19 March between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Date: Saturday 19th March, 2016
Time: Between 8.30pm - 9.30pm
What: Turn your lights out for one hour, and use your social power!
Last year was the hottest year on record. It was also the year countries came together to work against climate change at the historic summit in Paris. With the world at a climate crossroads, Earth Hour 2016 is our time to shine a light on climate action and build the foundation for a better future for our planet and future generations.
“Climate action today will decide what tomorrow looks like for years to come. Earth Hour empowers each individual to be a part of making climate change history, be it through a social event, interactive campaigns and even social networks,” said Siddarth Das, Executive Director, Earth Hour Global.
In addition, as the UAE’s most iconic landmarks prepare to switch off their lights for Earth Hour, supporters are also invited to take a stand for climate action on their own personal landmarks – their social media accounts. By taking Earth Hour to the digital space, every individual has an opportunity to tell their story on how climate change affects people of all ages, background and cultures and why it is important to act now.
This year’s social media campaign “shine a light on climate action” empowers individuals and companies to exponentially spread the message of taking climate action by using the hashtags #EarthHourUAE and #ChangeClimateChange on their social networks. By signing up to the campaign on earthhour.org/climateaction, users allow Earth Hour to send 5 automated posts between 16 and 19 March 2016 to their Facebook wall. In addition, they will have access to a unique Earth Hour profile picture.
Going beyond the hour, users in the UAE continue receiving exclusive monthly tips to help them green their daily routines.
How to join Earth Hour 2016
Sign up to donate your social feed on earthhour.org/climateaction
Register your event on Earth Hour event tracker and download Earth Hour UAE artwork on earthhour.uae.panda.org
Since 2007, Earth Hour has mobilized businesses, organizations, governments and hundreds of millions of individuals in over 7,000 cities and more than 170 countries and territories to act for a sustainable future.
In 2015, all 7 Emirates participated in switching off their key landmarks and the Earth Hour campaign reached around 2.3 million people on social media platforms across the UAE. Hashtags in relation to Earth Hour reached a total of 31.7 views across the emirates.
“As an associate office of WWF, Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS-WWF) has been communicating the message of Earth Hour in the UAE since 2008, a message that has been amplified and strengthened by our partners across the UAE, and this year we will work together to give Earth Hour a social power”, said Reem Althawadi, Communications Director, Emirates Wildlife Society – WWF. “We believe in the power of social, and as millions around the world unite for our planet on this particular day of the year, the voice becomes even louder and more targeted when harnessed online; having people share their beliefs with their social network, the Earth Hour message spreads virally around the globe, inspiring others to do their part in changing climate change. The great thing about the Donate Your Facebook Feed campaign is that it produces its effects beyond Earth Hour in a fun and engaging way.”
“Social media knows no physical boundaries and neither does climate change,” added Das. “A simple action on social media is the kind of powerful statement that can excite friends and communities to be a part of the climate action we need to take on this global challenge.”
About EWS-WWF
Emirates Wildlife Society is a national (UAE) environmental non-governmental organisation established in 2001 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s representative in the western region and Chairman of Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi.
Emirates Wildlife Society works in association with WWF, one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with offices in 100 countries. The association is commonly known as EWS-WWF.
Our vision is to build a future where humans live in harmony with nature. Our mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the environment. We work with people and institutions in the UAE and region, to implement conservation solutions through science, research, policy, education and awareness.
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is WWF's global environmental movement. Born in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment, inspiring individuals, communities, businesses and organizations in over 170 countries and territories to take tangible climate action. Celebrating the tenth edition of its signature lights out event in March 2016, the Earth Hour movement continues to harness the power of its millions of supporters to shine a light on climate action and the power of the individual to change climate change.
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