Dubai- Dubai Customs took part in the global campaign; “Earth Hour 2010” organized by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in a bid to support this initiative which is aimed at halting climate change and reducing carbon emission.
Dubai Customs joined the government authorities in Dubai Government in the participation in this event inline with the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
The Government Communication Network coordinated the participations of the government authorities through the internal communications departments in order to support the environmental purposes of Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 and to confirm Dubai’s support to maintaining clean and sustainable environment.
Dubai Customs shut down its power at all premises and facilities and switched off unnecessary electricity for an hour from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27th, 2010.
Mrs. Feryal Tawakul, Executive Director of Community Affairs and Government Partnership Division said:" The Department’s participation in this voluntary campaign sends out a message to the whole world to state that the time has come to take the right action in the right direction by partaking in saving the environment and Earth. Such a contribution is considered an individual responsibility in general and a corporate social responsibility in particular.”
Besides shutting down power at all the Department’s premises and sections at its headquarters in Port Rashid, the outside lights were also turned off and the energy saving rate was measured during the aforementioned period.
Necessary measures were also taken during the shutdown in order ensure business continuity taking into consideration the nature of Dubai Customs business and its connection to the trade sector and the importers across the world.
Moreover, Dubai Customs took the initiative to register in the official website of the Earth Hour initiative and encouraged the employees to show their support by registering in the website individually. The Department also demonstrated a common presentation about the participation in Earth Hour 2010 that was shown around the world.
A number of the Department’s leaders and employees participated as well in the local march that kicked off from Jumeria Beach Hotel at Jumeira Street for an hour coinciding with the timing of the campaign.
It is worth noting that Dubai Customs has launched several environmental initiatives throughout the previous years in the field of preserving energy and combating trade of the products made of endangered fauna and flora.