| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.78 |
| Liaison | Julia Carlow |
| Submission Date | July 25, 2024 |
American University of Sharjah
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Julia
Carlow Acting Head of Sustainability Sustainability |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
AUS has made significant strides to lead campus decarbonization and higher education climate action in the UAE. In 2022, AUS was the first university in the UAE to publish a comprehensive Climate Action Plan which included an initial Greenhouse Gas Accounting Report prepared with the support of an external service consultant in order to determine the institution's baseline emissions. After conducting the GHG assessment, the consultant used the Science Based Target initiative's (SBTi) Target Setting Tool to develop a scope 1 and 2 target for AUS, using the absolute contraction approach aligned with a 1.5 degree C target. As part of the initial launch of its Climate Action Plan, AUS held a Climate Action Exhibition on campus from February 28 to March 12, 2022. The exhibition will act as a forum to seek feedback on faculty and student research, classroom engagement on climate action, and community campaigns to educate AUS’ stakeholders on climate action.
In fall 2022, students and alumni from AUS called for greater collaboration between university communities and governments to tackle pressing climate issues at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27). The group called for the establishment of a network to connect UAE students, faculty, alumni, industry and government to work together to ensure knowledge about sustainability was more integrated into university curricula. Such a network would help to embed UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals into higher education programs.
In spring 2023, AUS was the first university to join the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA), reinforcing its commitment towards decarbonization and net zero targets. UACA is the flagship non-state actor program for the UAE, which aims to increase momentum towards achieving net zero targets in line with science and the Paris Agreement. The alliance is endorsed by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and convened by Emirates Nature-WWF who is the leading environmental NGO in the UAE. By bringing together stakeholders, UACA facilitates greater collaboration, mobilizing the whole of society towards achieving the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. The alliance's priorities include supporting non-state actors in implementing and raising their net zero targets at any stage of their decarbonization journey, and engaging policy makers to address key gaps in the policy environment.
In fall 2023, AUS was nominated to represent higher education on the UACA Advisory Committee, advocating for higher education's key role in championing climate action through education, innovation and operations.
Following its advocacy at COP27, AUS is an inaugural member of the Universities Climate Network (UCN), comprised of 33 UAE-based universities and higher education institutions working together to drive engagement among youth and academia in the lead up to COP28 and beyond. Given its extensive expertise in campus decarbonization, AUS has been leading the "Campus Carbon Neutrality" Pillar, one of the four network pillars.
https://www.aus.edu/media/news/aus-leads-uae-university-discussions-on-student-engagement-in-cop28
In the lead up to COP28, which was held in the UAE in December 2023, AUS launched an extensive climate awareness campaign among all campus stakeholders with the goal to increase climate literacy among students, faculty and staff and increase engagement with COP28.
The "Road to COP28" campaign consisted of numerous events and activities to raise awareness about the prestigious conference that was held in Dubai, UAE, in December 2023. The campaign targeted students as well as the community at large with a COP28 Speaker Series, COP28 Coffee Morning, COP28 Ramadan Talks, COP28 Quiz Night, and COP28 Q&A with the EcoReps as well as the Climate Coffee Podcast Series, the AUS Shams Media Day and the Climate Ambassador Program. The campaign was supported by industry experts, professors, and students.
The campaign culminated in the yearly "Higher Education Climate Dialogues" (HECD) student conference under the theme "Collaborating for Climate Resilience: Sustaining the Legacy of COP28” which was hosted by AUS in spring 2024 in collaboration with New York University Abu Dhabi. University students from across the UAE benefited from a debrief by the Youth Climate Champion (YCC) Team on the "UAE Consensus," the historic outcome of COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels. The YCC team, bridging youth stakeholders with governments and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also delivered a workshop later in the day, offering practical insights and actionable steps to involve youth in climate advocacy.
The campaign also included outreach to local highschool networks with AUS hosting its first AUS Climate Action Awareness Day for partner schools from the university’s Sharakah program. Attended by 250 high school students from eight Sharakah schools across the UAE, the event aimed to deepen their understanding about environmental issues and inspire innovative solutions for a transition to clean energy. Organized by the Office of Sustainability in collaboration with the College of Engineering and the Student Energy Summit (SES) Ambassadors, the event offered students the opportunity to engage with AUS faculty and students who are making great strides in the field of climate action. Dr. Amani Al-Othman, Professor in Chemical Engineering at AUS, provided an insightful introduction to climate change and the imperative of clean energy transition. Students also attended a panel discussion about the role of youth in climate action. The event also showcased the Clean Energy Transition Ideathon, where students from Delhi Private School Sharjah, Dubai International Private School, Al Nahda National School and Al Ittihad Private School Jumeirah, displayed their innovative spirit.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Air & Climate
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Second Point of Distinction
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
AUS had a significant involvement in promoting the role of higher education in climate action during the recent COP28, the annual international climate change conference organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which was hosted in the UAE in 2023.
In the days prior to the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference, AUS students co-hosted the Conference Of Youth (COY18), an annual event under the banner of YOUNGO, The Official Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). COY18 is the largest youth conference on multilateral UN climate processes. Serving as a space for capacity building and policy training to prepare young people for participation at COP28, COY18 empowers youth, formally bringing their voices to help shape the intergovernmental climate change policies to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), under which COP is running, and contributes directly into climate negotiations via the official youth policy paper.
https://www.aus.edu/media/news/aus-to-co-host-global-conference-of-youth-as-part-of-cop28
As part of its efforts to achieve the goals of the UAE Green Education Partnership Roadmap in preparation for the UAE’s hosting of COP28, the UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) launched the Greening Education Hub, the first ever dedicated space to highlight the important role of education and skill building in global climate action. AUS' participation the first-ever greening education hub included
- a dedicated exhibition booth highlighting the university's climate ambitions and programs
- speaker sessions led by AUS faculty and staff on on incorporating sustainability into curricula, implementing the Greening Education Partnership in Higher Education, and the role of scientific research and research networks in climate change and the progress made in measuring and tracking greenhouse gas emissions in higher education institutions in the UAE.
https://www.aus.edu/article/aus-participates-in-cop28-greening-education-hub
Showcasing her passion for climate change advocacy, AUS student Manal Nadeem, a second-year international studies student, was selected to represent the UAE at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 28 as part of the UAE Youth Climate Delegate Program (YCDP). The YCDP, launched by the UAE Federal Youth Authority (FYA) in partnership with the Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, aims to increase youth participation in the multilateral climate process. The program embeds them in the UAE's negotiations and partnerships teams at COP and engages them in public and private sector initiatives, to enhance upskilling and create awareness of the UAE's climate action track record.
https://www.aus.edu/media/news/aus-student-to-represent-uae-in-global-climate-action-at-cop28
Abdul Muqeet, a final-year computer engineering student at American University of Sharjah (AUS), was appointed as one of seven UNICEF Youth Advocates for Climate Change, selected from across UAE universities and schools. All seven advocates played an integral role in COP28, advocating for climate action and sustainability. The designation is part of UNICEF’s Youth Advocacy Program supported by the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood under Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. As a UNICEF Youth Advocate for Climate Change, Abdul Muqeet represented children’s rights in sustainability and climate action.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Air & Climate
Energy
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Third Point of Distinction
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.