27 school directors pledge to reduce their ecological footprint through 'Al Madaris Al Mustadama'

The Sustainable Schools Initiative is a 'whole school' initiative, launched by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi on last September, supported by the Emirate's educational authorities and sponsored by BP. The initiative addresses students, parents, teachers and even non-teaching staff. It links them with the community through varied activities and promotes environmental sustainability in Abu Dhabi Emirate with concrete deliverables.

Dr. Jaber Al Jaberi, Director of Environment Policy Sector of EAD, speaking at the pledge ceremony, said:

"Our rationale for launching this project with schools is the fact that students are the future stakeholders and constitute nearly 25% of the population. They need to be equipped with the right skills and a positive attitude to tackle today's environmental problems. The results of the Annual Environmental Awareness and Behaviour Survey, commissioned by EAD, revealed that there still remains a vast disconnect between level of environmental awareness and proactive behaviour."

Al Jaberi stressed, "Abu Dhabi 2030 and Abu Dhabi Policy Agenda have clearly stated the need to strive towards a path of sustainability while pursuing growth. We all need to put in our best to support this goal."

"The schools pledging today will be addressing their own schools' environmental impact. They will work to reduce their ecological footprint and will capacity build their teachers through training. Their students will be empowered through environmental clubs and they will take their students 'back to nature' through hands-on field experiences," he added.

Dr. Al Jaberi noted that this initiative will help schools foster more positive environmental behavior in their students.

"We will share international best practices with the schools and help them network with reputed environmental education organizations in the region. We will also be working with key partners in the Emirate such as Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority and Center for Waste Management - Abu Dhabi so that we can help these schools achieve their targets to reduce their water consumption, energy and waste," he added.

"This initiative also abides by the guiding principles of Education for Sustainable Development and so by implementing this initiative, we will all be complying with the needs of the decade and with our commitment to Agenda 21," he concluded.

BP's General Manager in Abu Dhabi, Jay Pearson, thanked the school directors for making a commitment to environmental education, and said, "BP has a strong reputation for promoting education and environmental responsibility around the world. This initiative promises to raise much needed awareness amongst the people and most importantly the youth of Abu Dhabi. We are delighted to be working in partnership with EAD to support this important initiative in Abu Dhabi."

"Students of Al Nahda National School for Girls have always participated in the environmental awareness programmes organized by EAD and other organizations. They are now looking forward to transforming this awareness that they have gained into action that can help reduce the ecological footprint of their school," said Amy Simmons, Principal of Al Nahda National School for Girls, one of the participating schools in the Sustainable Schools Initiative.

To guide schools throughout this initiative, EAD has developed several tools in collaboration with India's Center for Science and Environment and Center for Environment Education. EAD will provide these tools to participating schools which include the Green School Manual, Environmental Clubs Manual, Environmental Field Trips Manual and Environment Education Teachers' Manual. It also include Teacher's Online Training & Certification Course and Training of the Trainers' Programme where participating school's teachers will be trained by top environment education experts from Canada and the US.

Objectives of Sustainable Schools Initiative:

• To capacity build school communities to address their own environmental impact and to help schools roll out a sustained environmental education and awareness activity for the whole school community.
• To ensure environmental sustainability within schools through green auditing and management measures.
• To capacity build teachers to tackle current pedagogies on environmental education.
• To support and help establish environmental clubs in schools.
• To initiate a Volunteer Field Educators Group to roll out 'hands on' field experiences for their students.

4 Components of Sustainable Schools Initiative:

• Green School Auditing and Management.
• Training the Trainers on New Teaching and Learning Strategies in Environmental Education.
• Supporting and Establishing Successful Environmental Clubs.
• Exposing Students to 'Hands On' Field Experiences.