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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.

COP28_Partner_A_UCN

 

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.

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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.

AUS COP28 Events

Thursday, November 30

Catalyzing Decarbonization: Digitalization and Strategy, Schneider Electric Sustainability Circles at COP28

Participant:

  • Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of College of Engineering

Time:

  • 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location:

  • Booth 105 in the Technology & Innovation Hub 1, Green Zone
Friday, December 1

Curriculum Design and ESD in Practice Supported by the CoDesignS Learning Design and ESD Framework and Toolkit

Participants:

  • Dr. Norita Ahmad, Professor, Information Systems and Business Analytics
  • Dr. May Zaki, Associate Professor, Arabic and Translation Studies
Time:
  • 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Location:
  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone

FunDoo-GreenPal: Unlocking Digital Climate Action Skills for Adolescents

Participants:

  • Dr. Norita Ahmad, Professor, Information Systems and Business Analytics

Time:

  • 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone

Implementing the Greening Education Partnership in Higher Education: Collaborations and Initiatives

Participants:

  • Kristina Katsos, Instructor, International Studies
  • Dr. Kristen Doyle Highland, Assistant Professor, English Literature

Time:

  • 5:15 p.m.–6:15 p.m.

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone

Youth COP28 Ambitions for 2030 

Student Participants:

  • Omar Alali and Alia Ahli, International Studies 

Time:

  • 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Location:

FAB Pavilion in the Climate Finance Hub, Green Zone

Saturday, December 2

Climate Impact on Culture and National Identity

Student Participants:

  • Khalifa Albah and Shamma Aljallaf, International Studies 

Time:

  • 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m

Location:

  • FAB Pavilion in the Climate Finance Hub, Green Zone
Sunday, December 3

A Special Edition of the Global Youth Forumthemed "Empowering Youth for Sustainability
Student participants:

  • Jitakshara Nain, Idowu Odeleye, Ayesha Fernandes, Zahra Sajjadali and Joel Azar from the College of Architecture, Art and Design
  • Jude Aly, Maysoun Al-Ali, Abdelfattah Al Saeed, Alia Ahli, Roudha Alaleeli, Uzma Kaloo, Nour Ahmad Ibrahim, Mohammed Ashraf Jaffar and Maria Sophy Ajith from the College of Arts and Sciences

Time:

  • 9:00 a.m.

Location:

  • Terra Auditorium at the Sustainability Pavilion, Green Zone

Growing Up in the Midst of a Climate Crisis: Tackling Eco-anxiety and Eco-grief

Student Participants:

  • Amal Haneef, English Literature, and Sameera Khan, Environmental Sciences

Time:

  • 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

Location:

  • FAB Pavilion in the Climate Finance Hub, Green Zone
Tuesday, December 5

Higher Education's Path to Net Zero: Navigating GHG Emissions Measurement Opportunities and Challenges

Participant:

  • Julia Carlow, Acting Head of AUS Sustainability

Time:

  • 12:15 p.m.–1:15 p.m

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone

UACA's Blue Zone Event, titled: "One Year of Impact: UAE Alliance for Climate Action"

Participant:

  • Julia Carlow, Acting Head of AUS Sustainability

Time:

  • 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. 

Location:

  • WWF Pavilion, Blue Zone
Wednesday, December 6

Youth for Sustainability: Innovate 4 Climate Jury Panel

Participant:

  • Dr. Norita Ahmad, Professor, Information Systems and Business Analytics

Time:

  • 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m

Location:

  • Masdar Pavilion, Green Zone

Sustainable Futures: Navigating Green and ESG Skills for Young Professionals

Participant:

  • Dr. Jamal Maalouf, Assistant Professor, Management, Strategy & Entrepreneurship

Time:

  • 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m

Location:

  • Impact Hub, DP World Pavilion

Youth Lens: Smart cities - What will the city of the future look like?

Participants:

  • Khadeeja Mulani, Urban Planning
  • Abdulla Alzarouni, Civil Engineering

Time:

  • 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m

Location:

  • FAB Pavilion in the Climate Finance Hub, Green Zone

Innovation@UAE Majlis: Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment / Transport

Participants:

  • Dr. Vian Ahmad,  Professor in Industrial Engineering
  •  Dr. Habib ur Rehamn,  Professor in Electrical Engineering

Time:

  • 12:45 p.m.1:45 p.m.

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone

Tuesday, December 7

COP28 Education Ceremony:

Attendees:

  • Dr. Tod A. Laursen, Chancellor of AUS
  • Dr. Mohamed El-Tarhuni, Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Time:

  • 3:30 p.m.

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub in the COP28 Green Zone

 

Friday, December 8

A Climate Policy-Science Workshop: A Gap Analysis on Climate Change Research in the UAE

Participants:

  • Dr. Fatin Samara,  Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
  • Dr. Ivonne Bejarano, Assistant Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
  • Dr. Yuting Wang, Professor and Head of the Department of International Studies 
  • Dr. Adil Al-Tamimi, Professor in Civil Engineering

Time:

  • 6:30 p.m.–7:10 p.m

Location:

  • UAE Pavilion, Blue Zone

Student Presentation:  Life Cycle Thinking: A Pathway Towards Sustainable Building Design in UAE

  • Graduate students in construction management: Noora Sibaa, Ahmed El Afandi and Antuanet Saldana.

Time:

  • 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m

Location:

  • Dubai Municipality  Pavilion, Green Zone

Student Presentation: Case Study – Thermal Performance of 3D Printed Buildings in the UAE

  • Graduate civil engineering student: Habibelrahman Hassan

Time:

  • 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m

Location:

  • Dubai Municipality  Pavilion, Green Zone
Saturday, December 9

Integrating Actions for Climate and Biodiversity: Opportunities and Potential

Participants:

  • Dr. Fatin Samara,  Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences

Time:

  • 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m

Location:

  • SDG Pavilion, Blue Zone
Sunday, December 10

Visit the AUS booth and learn about:

  • Sustainability-focused research by students and faculty, including the prominent work of the Dana Gas Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering, Petrofac Research Chair in Renewable Energy and Riad T. Sadek Chair in Civil Engineering
  • PhD programs in bioscience and engineering, and materials science and engineering
  • AUS’ three newly established research institutes: the Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center in the College of Engineering; the Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development in the School of Business Administration; and the Materials Research Center in the College of Arts and Sciences

Time:

  • 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone

Do you know what’s in your water?

Participants:

  • Dr. Fatin Samara, Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences

Time:

  • 10:30 a.m –11:30 a.m

Location:

  • M42 Green Zone Space, Green Zone

Youth Perspective: UAE’s Youth to Summarize Learnings from COP

Student Participants:

  • Jawwad Sheikh, Mechanical Engineering, and
  • Sathya Aamuktha Samrajyam, Chemical Engineering

Time:

  • 5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m

Location:

  • FAB Pavilion in the Climate Finance Hub, Green Zone
Monday, December 11

The Role of Scientific Research and Research Networks in Climate Change Collaborations and Youth Education

Participants:

  • Dr. Fatin Samara,  Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences

Time:

  • 1:15 p.m.– 2:15 p.m

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone

Visit the AUS booth and learn about:

  • Sustainability-focused research by students and faculty, including the prominent work of the Dana Gas Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering, Petrofac Research Chair in Renewable Energy and Riad T. Sadek Chair in Civil Engineering
  • PhD programs in bioscience and engineering, and materials science and engineering
  • AUS’ three newly established research institutes: the Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center in the College of Engineering; the Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development in the School of Business Administration; and the Materials Research Center in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Time:

  • 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone
Tuesday, December 12

Visit the AUS booth and learn about:

  • Sustainability-focused research by students and faculty, including the prominent work of the Dana Gas Chair in Chemical and Biological Engineering, Petrofac Research Chair in Renewable Energy and Riad T. Sadek Chair in Civil Engineering
  • PhD programs in bioscience and engineering, and materials science and engineering
  • AUS’ three newly established research institutes: the Energy, Water and Sustainable Environment Research Center in the College of Engineering; the Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development in the School of Business Administration; and the Materials Research Center in the College of Arts and Sciences

Time:

  • 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Location:

  • Greening Education Hub, Green Zone

Impactful interventions through transformative Innovations in the educational sector - MENA and SA region

Participants:

  • Dr. Fatin Samara, Professor, Environmental Science

Time:

  • 12:00 p.m – 1:00 p.m

Location:

  • UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub Pavilion, Green Zone

Sustainability at the Crossroads: Retrofitting Challenges and Opportunities in the UAE

Participants:

  • Dr. Jerry Kolo, Professor of Architecture

Time:

  • 10 a.m.– 12 p.m.

Location:

  • Second floor of the Slovenian Pavilion, “Knauf House,” Green Zone

 

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.

Learn more.

COY18

Student Energy Summit (SES)

SES2

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.

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Preparing for COP28

AUS students, faculty and staff have made significant contributions to the UAE Year of Sustainability.

STUDENT AND ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

AUS students and alumni are front and center of climate action in the UAE and abroad. Discover how their passion for the environment is being translated into positive outcomes.
 

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.

UNICEF Youth Ambassador ImageAbdul 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. 

Learn more.

Maitha (1)

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. 

Learn more.

manal_landscape_0 (1)

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).

Learn more.

Jad Louis 2

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.  

Learn more.

Sarah Ehab 2

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. 

Learn more.

AUS ALUMNI IN SUTAINABILITY 

AUS is proud to share the achievements of sustainability changemakers in our alumni community.

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.

AUS RESEARCH: CLIMATE ACTION IN PROGRESS

AUS researchers and students are having an impact. Finding solutions that will mitigate the impact of climate change is a focus of many research projects currently underway at AUS. Here is just a snapshot.

 

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.

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AUS Sustainability Achievements

AUS has fostered a reputation for being one of the region's most sustainable universities. Here are just a few reasons why.

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.

COP28 image

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

sustainability@aus.edu

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