AUS professor seeks science based policy in climate action
SHARJAH: Dr. Fatin Samara, a leading figure in the UAE’S climate change research community, has emphasised the importance of evidencebased decision-making when developing policies that address climate change. The Professor of Environmental Sciences at American University of Sharjah (AUS) used her presence at the recent 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) to call for more collaboration between scientists in the fight against climate change.
Representing AUS and the UAE Climate Change Research Network (CCRN), the later of which she co-chairs, Dr. Samara addressed COP27 audiences at the following sessions:
Science-driven Policy in Climate Action, hosted by the CCRN
Science Policy-interface for Climate Action, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN) and the UN Resident Coordinator Office in the UAE
Science-policy Implementation Interface for Food Systems Transportation and National Adaption Plan Implementation in the Middle East and Africa
Atracting global leaders in climate change policy from across the world, COP27 provided an important plaform for sharing the UAE’S climate change goals and its work toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. According to Dr. Samara, closing the gap between science and policy, a key objective of the CCRN, will be instrumental to all countries for reaching their net-zero goals.
“The UAE has many environmental success stories when it comes to bridging research and science with policy and implementation. The Marine Protected Areas in Abu Dhabi came about as a result of research collaboration between academia and the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority and researchers at AUS established one of the region’s first databases to monitor plastic ingestion by sea turtles and the first worldwide assessments on the impact of oil spills on sea snakes,” Dr Samara said.
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