A Step Towards A Better Future
Higher education institutions in the UAE have developed an appropriate platform to pursue the path of sustainability by the UAE Net Zero 2050
The UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative is a national drive to achieve netzero emissions by 2050 making the UAE the first Middle East and North Africa (MENA) nation to do so. With the core focus on the latest trends relating to energy, saving natural resources and building a sustainable environment, the UAE has become an ideal platform for Universities to highlight the role of the education sector on the road to Net Zero.
Education establishments, through their world-class research and innovation activities, are at the forefront of disruptive technologies and ideally placed to anticipate the skills of the future. As such, universities such as American University Sharjah (AUS) are promoting sustainable change on campus. AUS has been internationally recognised for its commitment to sustainability. In 2018, the university was the first in the GCC to be rated for sustainability, earning a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System bronze award for sustainability in higher education from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
In addition, some universities are already partnering with industries to co-create offers that consider trends in the job market, and skills that employers are looking for, with a focus on workbased learning such as apprenticeships and internships.
Ajman University (AU) has also launched the AU Climate and Sustainability Strategy 2022-2030, which outlines the roadmap and actionable targets to address climate change. The university is committed to actively contributing to global and national efforts in tackling climate change. The strategy considers how to achieve resilience to the impacts of climate change across university operations and supports a smooth and fair transition to a low and eventually zero carbon future.
The pivotal role of the education sector
The UAE has come a long way since the beginning of the previous decade in taking concerted actions to not only reduce its carbon footprint but equip its next generation by involving the education sector in its planned journey. The higher education system has been encouraging the adoption of sustainability into its curriculum, considering it a high priority. Universities must bridge the gap between education and industry by facilitating cooperative partnerships across local and government agencies, employers and corporates to better link secondary and post-secondary education and training. Universities are uniquely placed to lead crosssectoral climate initiatives.
Future buildings will be Netzero. The educational system is turning green worldwide. In addition to incorporating Net Zero courses into their curricula, higher education institutions are also actively engaging in them. The heating and cooling of an educational building are large contributing factors to the carbon footprint of the site. By taking a fabric-first approach and improving the efficiency of the building envelope a huge step forward is achieved towards Net Zero ambitions. The fact that the UAE has recorded an increase in renewable energy capacity worldwide over the past decade is a testament to the efforts that the different sectors altogether with the country are making to achieve this goal.