A new survey in Abu Dhabi has revealed environmental campaigners are winning the war on climate change ignorance.
As Earth Hour approaches, Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with WWF (EWS-WWF), set out to discover the UAE’s awareness of the global environmental movement as well as the local call to switch to energy efficient lighting.
In a YouGov survey of 1,202 UAE residents, results show that 75 per cent of respondents have heard of Earth Hour, with 60 per cent of these people planning to participate in Earth Hour 2014. This figure has grown since last year, when only 54 per cent planned to take part.
The survey found that 84 per cent are either ‘extremely likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to switch to energy efficient lighting in an attempt to help the environment.
The results are an encouraging sign that the environmental message is hitting home, and that the country is on the right path to reap long-term environmental benefits.
Echoing the Earth Hour call to switch off lights for the hour, 55 per cent said they turn off lights when not in use because they are conscious about the environment.
More than half of those surveyed (52 per cent) rated the environment as a main issue of concern for them, while as many as 88 per cent of the surveyed believe they have a role to play in helping the environment.
EWS-WWF is urging UAE residents to get involved and play their part in helping the environment by participating in Earth Hour. The environmental NGO is encouraging the UAE community to turn their lights out for one hour on March 29th at 8.30pm, and change their lights to energy efficient bulbs in a bid to do something good for the planet on Earth Hour.
Hotels, businesses and private homes are all being urged to back Earth Hour across Abu Dhabi and help play their part in protecting the planet with a special event being held in Khalifa Park to mark the occasion with music, dance and rhythm. Other landmark buildings taking part in Earth Hour include Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Maqta Bridge, Musaffah Bridge, Etihad Towers, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi and ALDAR HQ.
From its beginnings in Sydney, Australia in 2007, Earth Hour has become an international phenomenon now reaching out across 7,000 cities, 154 counties and 1.8 billion people.
