Students speak up on environment preservation

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

With guidance from the wise, children not only in the UAE but in the region have been coming up with ideas as well as doing their share in reviving Mother Earth from the despicable effects of wanton mindlessness against nature.

The children range from pupils to university/college students who recently participated in two regional and local events in Dubai.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Knowledge Park teemed with young adults from the UAE, the Gulf and the Mediterranean as well as from North Africa for the 19th cycle of the “Inter-College Environmental Public Speaking Competition” spearheaded by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) and supported by the UAE Ministry of Education and the Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc).

Clove in 41 competing teams, they expressed their views and talked about how their respective educational institutions assist them in fully comprehending and encouraging them to become pro-active against environmental degradation and climate change.

Seven emerged as winners, based on the decision of a four-man jury of UAE-based experts.

Over-all winners were the University of Sharjah (UoS), Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management-Dubai and University of Bolton-Ras Al Khaimah.

The winner for the Healthcare and Sustainability topic was Rochester Institute of Technology-Dubai; Food Waste Management: Reversing the Tipping Point, UoS; Artificial Intelligence and the Environment, British University-Cairo (Egypt); and Climate Change: Reversing the Tipping Point, Manipal Academy of Higher Education-Dubai.

The topics are connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) 3, 4, 9, 12, and 13 namely healthcare, quality education, innovation in infrastructure, responsible consumption practices, and climate action.

EEG chairperson Habiba Al Mar’ashi said all these could only be had through the full understanding and concrete action of  UNSDG 17, which “highlights the necessity for multi-sector engagement to achieve all the (SDGs of the world body).” 

On Wednesday, Santa Claus surprised primary graders of the Arbor School in Al Furjan District.

He led them in the reading of their personal letters to leaders and authorities around the world regarding their take and what they want to be achieved through circular economy, which they believe should be well-thought of incorporated through the curriculum of every school and university across the globe.

The pupils know because aside from the theories they learn on environment protection and preservation, within their campus are three large biodomes that replicate a tropical forest, a green play area, and an ecological makespace.

They also grow their own vegetables and fruits from their campus garden under the mentorship of the Emirates Bio-Farm people led by general manager/organic farmer Yazen Al Kodmani.

Santa Claus enumerated his “wish list”: that governments “create a clear and decisive plan in line with the Paris Agreement (also known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change signed in 2016 by 195 countries and which tackles how to decrease greenhouse/gas emissions), developing robust legislation and standards, implementing financial incentives, reducing harmful subsidies, introducing tax reforms, and ensuring life-long learning to expand knowledge and international cooperation.” 

Santa Claus’s visit was courtesy of Business Finland whose goal is to further expand the essence of circular economy through the participation of Finland at Expo2020 Dubai.

Finland Ambassador to the UAE Marianne Nissila said: “The decline of biodiversity and subsequent challenges made to traditional societies and economic strategies are driving countries to make drastic changes and develop sustainable solutions to guarantee the future our youth deserve.”

“We believe education is the foundation of any significant change. With professions of the future becoming more and more diverse, it is vital we prepare our younger generations by giving them access to the knowledge, understanding and the appetite essential to effect positive change,” she also said.