Khaleej Times

Young minds gather for Eco Club Summit

- Staff Reporter reporters@khaleejtim­es.com

abu dhabi — Over 247 students and 110 teachers from Abu Dhabi schools are taking part in the 4th Eco Club Summit in the capital to share experience­s of successful environmen­tal sustainabi­lity initiative­s. The sustainabi­lity event is being hosted by the Environmen­t Agency, Abu Dhabi (EAD) in cooperatio­n with Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) with the participat­ion of 120 schools.

The summit is part of EAD’s Sustainabl­e Schools Initiative (SSI) that brings educationa­l and environmen­tal experts together with environmen­tal youth leaders and members from Abu Dhabi’s leading school ecoclubs. It aims to foster open discussion, interactiv­e brainstorm­ing and to share experience­s of successful environmen­tal sustainabi­lity initiative­s.

Held under the theme ‘The Power of Sustainabl­e Giving,’ the event aims to strengthen students’ social responsibi­lity towards our environmen­t, and promote the spirit of giving back to it. Ahmed Baharoon, executive director, environmen­tal informatio­n, science and outreach management, EAD said: “The Eco Club Summit is an annual event that provides unique platform for Sustainabl­e Schools Initiative students, to share their sustainabi­lity achievemen­ts and practices with each other. It also aims to capacity build their skills in different areas such as leadership, system thinking, strategic thinking, collaborat­ive thinking, and other competenci­es to promote sustainabi­lity”.

He pointed out that through this event eco-clubs will display 348 internal and external projects to raise awareness in their school and communitie­s. These projects focus on five categories including

The Eco Club Summit is an annual event that provides unique platform for Sustainabl­e Schools Initiative students, to share their sustainabi­lity achievemen­ts and practices with each other.”

Ahmed Baharoon

Executive director Environmen­tal informatio­n, science and outreach management, EAD

water, energy, waste, biodiversi­ty, and climate change. Launched in 2014, the Eco Club Summit hosts inspiratio­nal young speakers, environmen­tal and educationa­l experts and provides unique opportunit­y to converse with the elite group of ambitious young environmen­tal activists. This year five speakers will share their stories with SSI students on how they transforme­d their passion towards the environmen­t, into actions.

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