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Dubai: The managing director of Leo Burnett's Middle East operations has denied Earth Hour is only for show.
Dubai-based Kamal Dimachkie said the symbolic event "drove home the message of climate change and brought the topic of the environment to the forefront of the public's mind".
"Earth Hour is indeed symbolic, and if it is just for show - its one spectacular show, driving home the message of climate change," he told Gulf News.
"However, it is a global climate change initiative and calls on individuals and businesses to turn off their lights for only one hour. This year more than 350 cities around the world took part, representing millions of individuals, which can only serve to positively effect the environment. This mass collective participation, in my opinion, repudiates the claim that it is only for show," he said.
Dubai became the first city in the Arab world to participate in Earth Hour on March 29 this year. Dubai Water and Electricity Authority said energy use across the city dropped by 100,000 kilowatts per hour during the 8-9pm period of the event, preventing 60,000 kilograms of CO2 emissions. The reduction in electrical demand in the city totalled 75 megawatts - or a total of a 2.4 per cent reduction in electricity compared to that before Earth Hour.
Dimachkie said: "I would say that Earth Hour in Dubai was successful in terms of achieving its objectives.
"Encouraging people to switch to energy saving light bulbs is of fundamental importance as we all seek to lower our carbon footprints and do our own bit for the environment. However, first we need to raise collective awareness about the issue of energy waste."
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