AUS: Sustainability in Action
#AUSCOP28
AUS: Sustainability in Action
#AUSCOP28
AUS: Sustainability in Action
#AUSCOP28
As all eyes turn to the UAE for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), American University of Sharjah (AUS) is assuming a leadership position in preparation for this global event.
Because tomorrow matters.
AUS COP28 Membership
What is COP28?
Held under the umbrella of the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, COP28 serves as a catalyst for change, fostering innovation and collaboration. It aims to offer a thorough evaluation of worldwide climate advancements since the adoption of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
COP28 AUS Engagement
AUS is a member of the Universities Climate Network (UCN), a network comprising UAE-based universities and higher education institutions facilitating dialogues, workshops, public events and youth participation in the lead up to COP28 and beyond. AUS is leading two out of four UCN pillars, namely Student Youth Engagement and Campus Carbon Neutrality.
AUS is also a member of the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA), a domestic alliance of stakeholders led by Emirates Nature-WWF and the flagship non-state actor program for the UAE, aiming to increase momentum towards achieving net zero targets in line with science and the Paris Agreement.
AUS at COP28
With a focus on the centrality of youth participation and the pivotal role of education in accelerating progress to achieve global climate ambitions, AUS students, faculty and staff will be engaging in a myriad of events and activities in COP28’s different hubs at the Green Zone.
Their work will feature in the First Abu Dhabi Bank Pavilion in the Climate Finance Hub, Dubai Municipality Pavilion, the Prototypes for Humanity Project and the Greening Education Hub – (Erth), Legacy from the Land of Zayed, hosted by the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the Greening Education Partnership with its secretariat at UNESCO. The Greening Education Hub will feature workshops, panel discussions, expert talks and keynote presentations focused on four main pillars: Greening Schools; Greening Curriculum; Greening Teacher Training and Education Systems’ Capacities; and Greening Communities. AUS alumni will also take part in several COP28-related sessions. Learn more about our AUS alumni participation here.
In the lead up to COP28, AUS is also co-hosting the Conference of Youth 18 (COY18) and participating in the Student Energy Summit (SES) in Abu Dhabi.
What to expect
AUS COP28 Events
Thursday, November 30
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Catalyzing Decarbonization: Digitalization and Strategy, Schneider Electric Sustainability Circles at COP28 Participant:
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Friday, December 1
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Curriculum Design and ESD in Practice Supported by the CoDesignS Learning Design and ESD Framework and Toolkit Participants:
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FunDoo-GreenPal: Unlocking Digital Climate Action Skills for Adolescents Participants:
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Implementing the Greening Education Partnership in Higher Education: Collaborations and Initiatives Participants:
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Youth COP28 Ambitions for 2030 Student Participants:
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Location: FAB Pavilion in the Climate Finance Hub, Green Zone |
Saturday, December 2
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Climate Impact on Culture and National Identity Student Participants:
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Sunday, December 3
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A Special Edition of the Global Youth Forum, themed "Empowering Youth for Sustainability”
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Growing Up in the Midst of a Climate Crisis: Tackling Eco-anxiety and Eco-grief Student Participants:
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Tuesday, December 5
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Higher Education's Path to Net Zero: Navigating GHG Emissions Measurement Opportunities and Challenges Participant:
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UACA's Blue Zone Event, titled: "One Year of Impact: UAE Alliance for Climate Action" Participant:
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Wednesday, December 6
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Youth for Sustainability: Innovate 4 Climate Jury Panel Participant:
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Sustainable Futures: Navigating Green and ESG Skills for Young Professionals Participant:
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Youth Lens: Smart cities - What will the city of the future look like? Participants:
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Innovation@UAE Majlis: Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment / Transport Participants:
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Tuesday, December 7
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COP28 Education Ceremony: Attendees:
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Friday, December 8
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A Climate Policy-Science Workshop: A Gap Analysis on Climate Change Research in the UAE Participants:
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Student Presentation: Life Cycle Thinking: A Pathway Towards Sustainable Building Design in UAE
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Student Presentation: Case Study – Thermal Performance of 3D Printed Buildings in the UAE
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Saturday, December 9
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Integrating Actions for Climate and Biodiversity: Opportunities and Potential Participants:
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Sunday, December 10
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Visit the AUS booth and learn about:
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Do you know what’s in your water? Participants:
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Youth Perspective: UAE’s Youth to Summarize Learnings from COP Student Participants:
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Monday, December 11
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The Role of Scientific Research and Research Networks in Climate Change Collaborations and Youth Education Participants:
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Tuesday, December 12
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Impactful interventions through transformative Innovations in the educational sector - MENA and SA region Participants:
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Sustainability at the Crossroads: Retrofitting Challenges and Opportunities in the UAE Participants:
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Conference of Youth (COY18)
From November 26 to 28, AUS is co-hosting COY18, the largest youth conference focusing on UN climate processes. Taking place at Expo City Dubai, this event aims to empower youth by offering capacity-building and policy training for their involvement in COP28. It serves as a platform to amplify youth voices, directly influencing international climate policies within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) framework. COY, as the official gathering of engaged youth and YOUNGO members (the UNFCCC's youth constituency), contributes a dedicated youth policy paper to climate negotiations.
Student Energy Summit (SES)
Taking place from November 29-December 1 under the theme “Reimagining the Future,” SES will create a sustainable outlook for energy transition by connecting the youth of today to leaders of the energy sector to educate the leaders of tomorrow.
With the support of AUS Sustainability and the Sharakah Schools Program, the AUS SES ambassadors organized a Climate Action Awareness Day for Sharakah high-school students to educate future generations on the significance of shifting to sustainable energy.
Gallery
Preparing for COP28
AUS students, faculty and staff have made significant contributions to the UAE Year of Sustainability.
Gain valuable insights into the COP27 journey as AUS participants share their experiences, perspectives and contributions towards global climate discussions. Explore firsthand accounts that highlight the unique challenges and achievements encountered by the AUS delegation at this crucial event.
Abdul Muqeet, a final year computer engineering student at AUS, has been named as one of seven UNICEF Youth Advocates for Climate Change. All seven of the advocates, selected from across UAE schools and universities, will play an integral role at Dubai’s upcoming COP28 in advocating for climate action and sustainability.
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Only a few months since her graduation from the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) at AUS, Maitha Al Hammadi is being recognized for forging her own path as she applies her Bachelor of Architecture degree to the field of sustainable landscape design.
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A passion for climate change advocacy has seen AUS student Manal Nadeem selected to represent the UAE at COP28 as part of the UAE Youth Climate Delegate Program (YCDP).
Making a difference in the world has been a goal AUS alumnus Jad Louis was hoping to achieve in his career. This goal was realized when he became Project Lead on the construction of Bee’ah Headquarters in Sharjah, a net-zero icon for sustainability in the UAE.
As influential citizens and leaders of tomorrow, AUS alumni are actively contributing to the development of their communities around the world. AUS alumna Sarah Ehab Abdelkader’s dedication to developing an on-site sustainable agricultural wastewater treatment unit has recently won her the L’Oréal UNESCO Young Scientists Award.
AUS ALUMNI IN SUTAINABILITY
Computer science alumna and entrepreneur Layla AlHajjaj shares her experience in opening an eco-friendly beauty salon, where sustainability and style seamlessly intertwine.
AUS alumnus and Regional Director of Operations of the International Code Council Mohamed Amer highlights the pivotal role of sustainable construction practices, emphasizing eco-friendly methodologies that minimize environmental impact.
AUS alumna Maissam El Kouche explores the dynamic synergy of environmental stewardship, social equity, economic growth and participation of the Arab youth through her work at the Arab Youth Council for Climate Change.
AUS Alumnus Omar Shihab speaks on redefining sustainability in the food industry.
CLIMATE COFFEE PODCAST
We invite you to tune into our podcasts where, along with an impressive lineup of guests, we discuss all things COP28 and climate action. Learn what AUS is doing to ensure its sustainability record is on track and how organizations from across the world are gearing up for COP28.
MEDIA
AUS Sustainability Achievements
Global Ranking
A member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), AUS is one of the top five institutions worldwide for community engagement in sustainability, according to AASHE’s 2022 Sustainable Campus Index. In 2018, AUS was the first university in the MENA region, and, at the time, only the fourth university outside of North America, to achieve an AASHE STARS sustainability rating. In 2021, AUS earned a STARS Silver rating, making it the highest rated university in the GCC region at the time. Read more.
EcoRep Program
Our EcoReps are enthusiastic students with a desire to promote sustainable change on campus. EcoReps educate their student peers on issues such as waste reduction, energy conservation, diversity and tolerance. Through guest speakers, events and outings, EcoReps deepen their own understanding of their sustainable campus and become better advocates for environmental action. New EcoReps join AUS sustainability each academic year and can join the program regardless of their chosen major.
Read more.
Low-Carbon Campus
In line with the UAE’s Green Agenda 2030 and the Ministry of Climate Change and the Environment’s (MOCCAE) National Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production, our primary goal is to turn AUS into a low-carbon campus. Based on our organizational footprint, we have selected two key priorities to achieve this goal: (1) reducing building energy and water consumption, and (2) transportation to/from/on campus.
Read more.
AUS has launched its first comprehensive Climate Action Plan with the goal to reduce the university’s carbon emissions. The plan further aligns the university’s sustainability efforts with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. The UAE’s strategic initiative is a national drive to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, making the UAE the first country in MENA to do so. The strategy aligns with the Paris Agreement and the UAE’s roadmap for the next 50 years for accelerating national economic development. Read more.
Our Engineering and Sciences Building has achieved 2 Pearl ESTIDAMA Certification. All classrooms, laboratories and offices are illuminated throughout the day using natural light and an outdoor thermal comfort strategy is in place for the building’s surrounds. In addition, the building features a system for recycling condensate water from its air conditioning, reusing 1.2 liters of water per second. Non-polluting, eco-friendly and recycled materials are used throughout. Read more.
Contact Us
Julia Carlow
Acting Head of AUS Sustainability
