DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) will lead hotels and tourist establishments in the country in celebrating Earth Hour with the rest of the world tonight.
All non-essential lights in these establishments will be switched off or dimmed from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. Hotel guests will also turn off or dim lights in their rooms or apartments.
About 1.8 billion people in over 7,000 cities across the world will mark the event to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the planet and the environment and preserving them for generations as well as about dangers of climate change and the need to ration power consumption and minimise carbon emissions.
QTA seeks to emphasise the Qatari tourism sector’s commitment to preserve energy and the environment.
Its social media campaign has called on everyone to shoot a 10-second video to document the moment lights are turned off or dimmed in institutions and hotels and send them to its social media accounts.
QTA will produce a short film on the activity. It is committed to United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism which aims to develop the tourism sector into an effective supporter of the national economy.
The code stresses the need for tourist establishments across the world to observe global environmental standards, especially that nature and the environment are key elements in hotel and tourism projects.
Meanwhile, as part of its commitment to being environmentally conscious and green, Aspire Zone will switch off non-essential lights. It expects to save enough energy to power 230 homes during Earth Hour.
It has also encouraged staff to use energy-saving LED bulbs, refuse plastic bags, use re-usable bags and turn off computers before they leave the office.
It will organise ‘Glow-in-the-Dark’ cycling event which is free and open to all. Participants should meet at Cycle Hire HQ at 8pm where they will receive a ‘free hire bicycle’ along with their own bike and night glow items, in what is shaping up to be a unique, eco-friendly exercise-driven experience.
Aspire Zone’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond Earth Hour, by ensuring that lighting schedules are reviewed regularly to reduce unnecessary energy use. It has installed automated systems to reduce the amount of resources required to operate lighting, air conditions and irrigation.
Aspire Zone organises events that promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage the community to be active.
It demonstrated the power humans have to produce energy on the eve of National Sport Day last year when top Qatari athletes and officials pedalled 50 stationary bikes for over 30 minutes and generated power to light up The Torch Hotel, Doha.
Earth Hour is the largest grassroots event launched by World Wide Fund for Nature in 2007 and has grown to engage more than 162 countries and territories.
The Peninsula
