Leaving behind sunshine, pleasant weather, and the golden warm sands of Dubai, 5 Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, employees have embarked on an expedition to one of the coldest and most isolated parts of the world. From the foot of the Andes Mountains in Ushuaia, Argentina, at the Earth's southernmost part, DEWA staff joined the 2041 Antarctica Expedition to highlight the effects of global warming, climate change, and the need to protect the South Pole.
The mission is led by Robert Swan, OBE, Founder of 2041, which works to increase global awareness on the environmental importance of Antarctica. There, DEWA staff will raise the UAE flag. During DEWA's celebrations of the 43rd UAE National Day last December, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and Public Security in Dubai, and Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, handed the UAE flag that will be raised in Antarctica to Mohammed Al Shamsi, Senior Manager of Sustainability and Climate Change at DEWA, who is responsible for DEWA's mission to Antarctica.
"DEWA encourages all initiatives that support its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, and its strategy to promote environmental awareness, protect natural resources, and reduce the carbon footprint. The team will gain deep insights on major issues that affect the entire world, such as climate change and energy consumption, as well as the Leadership on the Edge programme. The unique experiences they will go through will enhance their knowledge and insights, which they in turn will exchange with their colleagues, families, and friends," said Al Tayer.
"On their return, the team members will be sustainability ambassadors who will support the initiatives, programmes, and activities that DEWA launched throughout the year to raise awareness on the importance of environment protection such as Earth Hour, conservation campaigns, the Conservation Award. These support the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to reduce energy demand by 30% by 2030, and the Dubai Plan 2021 to establish Dubai as a smart and sustainable city whose environmental elements are clean, healthy, and sustainable," added Al Tayer.
The objectives of 2041 align with DEWA's strategy to promote environmental awareness, protect natural resources, and reduce the carbon footprint. DEWA's participation in the 2041 International Antarctica Expedition is part of its commitment towards the environment, and its efforts to develop its staff to become environment ambassadors to raise awareness on sustainability, environment and social responsibility, and the need to preserve natural resources for generations to come.
Dozens of DEWA staff were interested in joining the expedition. Applications included writing articles and recording a two-minute video by each candidate explaining the reasons why he or she wanted to be part of the expedition and what they wanted to achieve after their return. Four men and one woman were selected to take part in the two-week unique adventure.
"DEWA attaches great importance to protecting the environment as part of its environmental and social responsibility to preserve the right of society to enjoy a clean, safe, and healthy environment. Sustainability is an integral part of our vision. DEWA is committed to its responsibility towards society to promote sustainable development, locally, regionally, and globally. Contributing to limiting climate change is a shared responsibility of everyone around the world," said Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at DEWA.
"We provided the necessary training for the expedition team to be ambassadors representing not only DEWA or Dubai, but the UAE as a whole. They will raise the UAE flag in Antarctica to underline our country's commitment to protecting the environment, and preserving our natural resources for generations to come," added Al Mehairi.
The expedition started on 13th March 2015, when the team arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina. On day 2, team workshops were held, and on day 3, they left for Antarctica aboard Sea Spirit, a vessel approved for polar waters, and which carries a maximum of 100 passengers. On day 4, they cross the legendary Drake Passage, which is a milestone in any adventurer's personal travel. As they cross the Drake Passage, there will be a selection of multimedia lectures about Antarctica that cover the wildlife, geology, history and geography, the importance of renewable energy and how it plays a vital role in the preservation of Antarctica. From day 5 to day 10, the team will explore the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. They will visit places such as Cuverville Island, which is a dome-shaped 250m tall island, and the calving glaciers and statuesque icebergs of Neko Harbour. They will also visit Paradise Harbour, which is surrounded by glaciers that dramatically calve into the sea, and its breathtaking mountain reflections into clear waters. There, they might be lucky and encounter a few minke whales, which often seek shelter in this bay. They then pass the Lemaire Channel, which is surrounded by near vertical peaks on each side.
On day 11, the expedition will visit King George Island, which is the location of the 2041 E-Base, the first education station built in Antarctica from sustainable products, that runs on renewable energy. There, they will have a chance to visit the site of Robert Swan's 2008 E-Base Goes Live mission, where he successfully became the first person in Antarctic history to live for two weeks solely on renewable energy.
Antarctica has no government. Human activities are governed by an international agreement known as the Antarctica Treaty System. Established in 1959, this unique document ensures that Antarctica is used for peaceful and scientific purposes. Under the treaty, drilling and mining are banned by the Environmental Protocol, established in 1991 and ratified in 1998. This protocol, however, can be reviewed again in 2041. As this year approaches, the 2041 organisation is working to ensure that today's youth will be in a position to make informed and sustainable decisions in the future, protecting this last great wilderness.
Source: WAM