Today, the State of Qatar joined the rest of the world in celebrating the distinguished environmental event "Earth Hour"The lights were turned off for one hour with the aim of saving and sustaining energy and helping protect the planet.
Today, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change celebrated Earth Hour, by turning off the lights in the Ministry’s main building on the Corniche (Al Udeid Tower) from 8:30 until 9:30 pm, in addition to all the Ministry’s buildings.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s celebration of Earth Hour stems from its assumption of its responsibilities and role in preserving the planet, and its contribution to replacing harmful energy sources with other renewable and environmentally friendly sources, as well as encouraging the local community to use a sustainable life to reduce the use of energy sources that have negative effects on the environment, and reduce carbon emissions. On this occasion, Sheikh Dr. Saud bin Khalifa Al Thani, Director of the Green Development and Environmental Sustainability Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, affirmed the ministry’s keenness to participate in the celebration of Earth Hour, which falls on the last Saturday of March of each year, to remind individuals and the local community Their responsibilities to protect the earth from pollution in all its forms, by encouraging them to turn off unnecessary lights and electrical and electronic devices for one hour, indicating that every individual on this planet has a responsibility and a role in protecting the earth from pollution, no matter how small and ineffective some think that this role is. The Director of the Green Development Department pointed out that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is keen to participate in every global event related to the environment and the protection of the planet, based on its responsibilities and strong belief in the importance of these events in raising the awareness of societies about the issue of protecting the earth from pollution, and working to spread the culture of sustainability among all members of society. He stressed that these efforts resulted in the spread of a culture of environmental protection among all sects of the local community, and the use of best practices to preserve the environment and protect the planet from all types of pollution.
Sheikh Dr. Saud bin Khalifa Al Thani explained that the State of Qatar is making unremitting and promising efforts in the field of exploiting solar and wind energy as clean and renewable energy, as it has established the Kharsaa renewable energy plant, which is expected to cover 10 percent of the country’s electric energy consumption, and the Ministry of Environment and Change Climate works with an integrated scientific vision to protect the environment, and contribute significantly to the process of sustainable development, in which Qatar has recently succeeded, and has made great strides and important leaps, and this has been reflected in the organization of the best tournament in the World Cup with low carbon emissions, in which clean energy was used. And environmentally friendly means of transportation, as well as working to build football stadiums with materials that can be recycled, stressing that Qatar has fulfilled and fulfills all its international obligations in protecting the environment, and using the best modern practices to preserve the environment, and thus protect the planet from pollution of all kinds.
On this date every year, millions of people in more than 190 countries and regions coordinate their efforts to turn off the lights for just one hour, in an annual tradition to raise awareness of the issue of climate change. Launched in 2007 by the World Wildlife Fund and its partners in Sydney, Australia, Earth Hour is the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment.
Earth Hour is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of environmental, climate and nature conservation issues. It takes place on the last Saturday of March every year. Famous landmarks around the world, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Sydney Opera House, also participate in this event. The Earth Hour celebration this year comes under the slogan: "Give an hour to Earth by spending 60 minutes doing something – anything – positive for our planet"Through it, individuals, communities, homeowners and companies are encouraged to turn off unnecessary lights and electrical and electronic devices for one hour, according to the local time of each country in the world.
The celebration of this occasion sheds light on the dangers of losing some elements and components of nature and climate change, and on the need to work together to secure a brighter future for people and the planet. It shows what people have in common, and what they stand to lose by not taking active action for the climate and the planet.
The celebration of Earth Hour comes in the midst of the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, crises and conflicts in many parts of the planet, but Earth Hour reminds us of the need not to overlook the climate and nature crises that we face, and the need to pay attention to the importance of our planet, and the need to protect it, even if it is for a little time, otherwise it will turn Global divisions stop everyone from working together to take urgent action for the sake of our one homeland, and most importantly, we continue to cling to hope for a brighter future. Turning off the lights is a simple act, but it is a symbol of unity, a symbol of hope, and evidence of the strength and impact of collective action. In addition to this and that, this occasion reminds us that time is very precious, and that we are strong if our efforts and energies unite, to reach a stable climate and a prosperous nature in which all people enjoy health, happiness, growth and development, and if such a matter is not impossible, we should act immediately The alarm clock has begun to tick, warning of the exacerbating dangers of climate change.
In light of the acceleration of climate change and its dangerous repercussions on the planet, its inhabitants, and the elements of nature in it, it has become clear that the next seven years will be decisive in determining the extent to which countries, peoples, institutions, and companies can limit the rise in the planet’s temperature, and prevent it from rising by more than one and a half degrees that you specified. The Paris Climate Agreement, and we are certainly on the wrong path unless we change a lot of things, habits, behaviors, events and activities in our lives because failure to change means that we are descending towards irreversible environmental deterioration and unbridled climate change that will affect all societies and economies.
According to specialized international reports, the planet is losing nature at an alarming and unprecedented rate, and many living creatures on land and sea are at risk of extinction, which puts us at grave risk with which we lose our homes, and access to the basic necessities of life such as food, clean water and a livable environment, and priority should be given to restoring Nature side by side with climate recovery, so that the 2030 borders will be reached, with a safe and stable nature, more than the situation was at the beginning of the current decade.
