Dubai: Emirates Nature-WWF (World Wildlife Fund) is inviting the public to participate in a special ‘Earth Hour Switch Off Parade’ at Expo 2020 Dubai on Saturday.
Earth Hour is a global movement that WWF International started in 2007 and involves switching off all non-essential electricity for an hour to raise awareness for climate change and nature loss.
In the UAE, Emirates Nature-WWF is the regional representative for WWF. They expect 5 million people in the UAE to take part in Earth Hour this year, with a special ‘Switch Off Parade’ around Expo on Saturday, a day before the ‘Nature at Night’ event in Sharjah on Friday.
The procession will make its way throughout Expo from 8.30pm, starting at the Peruvian Pavilion in the Mobility District and ending at 9.30pm at UK Pavilion in Opportunity District. An estimated 60 pavilions will be participating in a symbolic switch off at intervals of one minute, for the duration of Earth Hour, to honour the iconic global event, organisers said.
Walking side by side
The ‘Earth Hour Switch Off Parade’ at Expo will be led by Dubai Police Marching Band and followed by the members of Emirates Nature-WWF’s newly launched ‘Leaders of Change’ programme as well as the general public.
Walking side-by-side, the parade will build on the sustainability through innovation ethos of Expo to emphasise on this year’s Earth Hour message, ‘Go Beyond the Hour’. It is emblematic of the UAE’s commitment towards Net Zero and a Nature Positive world by transforming and mobilizing mass society to help overcome our greatest environmental challenges.
Laila Mostafa Abdul Latif, director-general of Emirates Nature-WWF, said: “It is apt to be carrying out this year’s event at Expo 2020 as it embodies the UAE’s vision of being at the forefront of sustainable development through innovation.”
Abdul Latif added: “Although Expo 2020 is coming to an end, the legacy of what has been built - the ideas, the cooperation, and the symbolism of the world in one place looking towards a prosperous future where people and planet collaboratively thrive – illuminates how we must move forward. We are proud to be powering down at Expo 2020 and playing a part in the symbolic lights-out movement.”
Nature at night
Emirates Nature-WWF is also inviting nature enthusiasts to attend its ‘Nature at Night’ adventure at Sharjah’s Nazwa Desert area. “Nature at Night is just one of the many activities that we feature in our Leaders of Change membership programme, that we have designed as an organization to help tackle environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss,” said Abdul Latif.
