Wednesday, March 26, 2014

88% of UAE residents believe they have role to play in helping environment

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% of respondents have heard of Earth Hour, with 60% of these people planning to participate in Earth Hour 2014. This figure has grown since last year, when only 54% planned to take part.

The survey found that 84% are either ‘extremely likely’ or ‘somewhat likely’ to switch to energy efficient lighting in an attempt to help the environment. This is an encouraging sign that can only help to reap long-term environmental benefits as the country continues taking strides towards sustainability.

Echoing the Earth Hour call to switch off the lights for the hour, 55% said they turn off the lights when not in use because they are conscious about the environment.

More than half of those surveyed (52%) rated the environment as a main issue of concern for them; while as many as 88% 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 role in helping the environment by participating in Earth Hour. The environmental NGO is encouraging the UAE community to turn their lights out for the hour on March 29 at 8.30pm, and change their lights to energy efficient bulbs in a bid to do something good for the planet on Earth Hour.

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