Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
The Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), through its innovative and interactive programmes, is harnessing the transformative power of education to build a more sustainable future.
According to EEG, its diverse environmental programmes reflect its commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, and leveraging it for global impact.
A standout among these initiatives is the Students Workshops, launched in 2001 to cultivate a generation of environmental stewards in the UAE.
Since its inception, the workshops have engaged 8,545 students and 1,719 teachers, equipping them with environmental awareness and practical skills to contribute meaningfully to the country’s sustainability vision and the global Sustainable Development Goals.
Now in its 25th cycle, the programme targets students from primary, intermediate, and secondary levels across both public and private schools in the UAE.
This year’s workshop, scheduled to run from October 20 to 22 under the theme, the Paradox of Choice: Protecting the Present, Cultivating the Future, “invites students to critically examine the complex environmental dilemmas they face daily”, EEG said.
The programme is “intentionally designed to empower students to reduce their ecological footprint by turning awareness into action”.
“It emphasises how individual and collective choices – though seemingly minor – can have profound consequences for both immediate wellbeing and long-term sustainability,” EEG said.
The core objectives of the workshops include educating students about climate change and sustainable habits, primarily connecting choices to impact, promoting mindful consumption and sustainable habits, promoting systems thinking and long-term vision, equipping with tools and supporting the integration of environmental education across the curriculum.
Unlike traditional classroom learning, EEG’s workshops adopt an immersive, hands-on approach. Students participate in role-playing activities and group challenges, where they step into the shoes of policymakers, environmental activists, or business leaders to address real-world environmental issues.
Older students engage in advocacy and presentation exercises, pitching sustainability campaigns to peers and practising real-world leadership.
“Students learn how everyday decisions – like what they eat, wear or throw away – directly affect natural resources, climate and biodiversity,” EEG explained.
Another impactful feature of the programme is the inclusion of a comprehensive Teachers’ Manual, developed and provided to all participating educators. This manual serves as a practical guide, enabling teachers to replicate workshop content within their own classrooms and schools. It ensures that the knowledge shared during the sessions extends beyond the event itself, creating a multiplier effect across the wider school community, EEG said.
“The long-term impact of EEG’s Student Workshops is envisioned as a ripple effect – beginning with individual transformation and extending outward to families, schools, and entire communities.”
