Posted on August, 31 2009

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26th June 2009: Biological diversity is vanishing at an increasingly alarming rate, with changing climate pushing already threatened species to the brink of extinction. In a bid to highlight these global challenges to select audiences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Emirates Wildlife Society in association with the WWF (EWS-WWF) has linked up with Animal Planet and CineStar to host a landmark series, “The Animal’s Guide To Survival”, about climate change and how it is affecting some of the most vulnerable species and habitats in the world.

“It is clear that our climate is changing at unprecedented rates due to humans burning fossil fuels and releasing increasing quantities of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. While the screenings highlight some of the global impacts, it is important to remember that seemingly far away impacts such as melting ice-caps, will affect the UAE. Rising sea-levels due to melting ice-caps will directly affect our coasts and scientists also predict that we will face hotter summers, less rainfall, greater water scarcity, more intense storms and flooding and also impacts to our unique marine and terrestrial wildlife,” commented Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director EWS-WWF.

Al Mubarak continued,
“While our per capita carbon footprint is amongst the highest in the world, there are very simple things that we can do to save energy and reduce our personal contribution to climate change. I am pleased that these screenings will also promote the heroes of the UAE campaign to empower people to take local action against climate change and live more sustainable lifestyles.”


Before each screening, EWS-WWF will give a short presentation on how the climate change will affect the UAE and encourage the audience to join heroesoftheuae.ae and save energy.
Staff and volunteers will also be distributing energy saving light bulbs to install in their own homes to demonstrate the positive impacts of action.

“Lighting accounts for almost 10% of household energy consumption. By switching to energy –saving light bulbs the average two-bedroom apartment could save up to 800 Dirhams per year off their electricity bill as well as reducing their carbon footprint,” said Al Mubarak.

The six screening are taking place at CineStar cinemas, one of EWS-WWF’s loyal supporters. Popcorn and soda are sponsored by companies such as Geant Hypermarket and HSBC.

The timings are:
Melting Ice

* 25 August 2009, 21.00 CineStar, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
* 26 August 2009, 21.00 CineStar, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi

Freshwater

* 1 September 2009, 21.00 CineStar, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
* 2 September 2009, 21.00 CineStar, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi

Marshes & Mangroves

* 8 September 2009, 21.00 CineStar, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
* 9 September 2009, 21.00 CineStar, Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi


Melting Ice focuses on the effects of arctic warming which at twice the global average rate, is causing the glaciers to melt at unprecedented speed. The film highlights the damage rising sea levels are having on polar bears from the North Pole and to penguins in the South Pole, accelerating their potential of becoming extinct.

FreshWater, highlights the importance of freshwater, the resource all life depend upon, and the impact of droughts on the large lakes and their inhabitants in Africa. Climate change is predicted to increase drought in sub-saharan Africa, which will in turn affect many unique biodiversity hotspots.

Marshes & Mangroves, highlights the water treasures where land meets the sea. With rising seas and increasing salinity these important habitats and the animals that depend on them are under threat.

For more information log on to: www.herosoftheuae.ae. As part of an ongoing commitment across all levels of UAE society, the initiative will be launching a schools engagement phase as well as initiatives tackling the private sector and government institutions in coming months. The campaign was developed in association with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and has been endorsed by the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Ministry of Energy, and sponsored by the ADWEA, Masdar and the Abu Dhabi Media Company.