Doha Bank switched off the lights for an hour at its corporate headquarters and select branches across Qatar on Saturday evening to mark Earth Hour.
The move is part of Doha Bank’s commitment to support climate change action and raise awareness on energy conservation.
“Effective mitigation of climate change risk will not be achieved unless all state and non-state individuals step up their efforts towards a low-carbon future, and we believe the private sector has a vital role to play in making this transition possible,” Doha Bank chief executive Dr R Seetharaman said in a statement.
He noted that Doha Bank, as an active and long-standing advocate for environmental sustainability, consistently lent its support to initiatives that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“We are happy to be able to once again contribute to the fight to save our planet with our participation in Earth Hour,” Seetharaman added.
People from around the world turn-off all non-essential lights for one hour from 8.30pm to 9:30pm (local time) to take part in the global initiative.
Doha Bank is one of a number of institutions in the region that has an active “green” policy in all areas of its business.
The bank’s corporate headquarters at West Bay is designed to save energy while maximising ambient comfort.
It also maintains a well-defined environmental policy that encourages staff at all levels to “reduce, reuse and recycle” to minimise resource utilisation.
As part of its efforts to encourage environmental awareness at the grassroots of society, Doha Bank organises a number of annual initiatives such as the Al Dana Green Run, the largest community run in Qatar.
More than 6,000 people participated in this event this year.
Meanwhile, the bank’s ECO-Schools Programme seeks to integrate sustainability into the operational framework of schools and encourage them to become eco-friendly institutions by taking practical steps towards a greener path and by reducing their carbon footprint.
