Online platforms, spells: how the Abu Dhabi entity promotes environmental education – News
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The future of the planet is in the hands of the younger generations. To achieve a sustainable future, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) has been creating a positive impact on community members and students through its various programs and outreach initiatives, including Naha and e-green platforms.
Rasha Ali Al Midfai, acting director of EAD’s environmental awareness, environmental information, science and outreach management department, told Khaleej Times about the various efforts to address environmental issues.
“We launched the Naha platform to turn climate intentions into actions, with the aim of encouraging and inspiring community members to be proactive in creating a sustainable future,” Al Midfai said of the platform launched in November last year. .
He noted that by offering more than eight programs, the Naha platform promotes education and awareness around various environmental issues.
“Through these programs, people are encouraged to explore innovative solutions and foster collaboration between individuals and organizations to create a sustainable future.”
Impacting 1.8 million students
One of the programs, Enviro-Spellathon, is having a significant impact on environmental education by providing holistic, accessible and interactive learning experiences specific to the unique ecosystems of the UAE.
“Since its launch, Enviro-Spellathon has reached 1.8 million UAE students, offering challenges in English and Arabic, with Braille options to ensure inclusive learning.”
Catering to diverse interests, Enviro-Spellathon covers a variety of topics and levels, from wildlife in the UAE, seas, desert and cities, with the last level covering climate change and its impact on the environment .
“The platform’s comprehensive approach instills a sense of responsibility towards the environment while ensuring universal accessibility through bilingual content and interactive participation, making environmental education compelling and effective for all students. “We are committed to continuing to provide engaging and motivating programs to guide, support, encourage and propel community members towards a brighter, greener world.”
For more details, visit: https://www.ead.gov.ae/en/Join-the-Movement/Youth/i-Enviro-Spellathon.
E-Green Learning Platform
The launch of the e-Green learning platform in schools aims to have a profound impact on both students and the environment, Al Midfai said.
“This innovative platform is designed to discuss and uncover distinctive ecological challenges and region-specific opportunities. E-Green provides students with a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues relevant to the local context. Through interactive modules and engaging content, students gain practical knowledge on sustainable practices, resource conservation and environmental leadership,” said Al Midfai about the initiative launched in October 2022.
The courses, which cover a wide range of topics from marine ecosystems to sustainable urbanization, are curated and taught by industry experts, providing users with credible and practical information to advance their knowledge.
“While actively contributing to environmental sustainability, the platform helps cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious people who are capable of making informed decisions in their daily lives. E-Green promotes a shift towards a greener educational approach, reducing the consumption of paper and other resources associated with traditional learning methods in schools. “This transition aligns with global efforts towards sustainability and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s commitment to environmental conservation.”
Broader goals
Al Midfai noted that these initiatives not only stimulate proactive engagement, but also contribute to meeting the UAE’s strategic sustainability guidelines and goals, such as Net Zero by 2050.
“Through increased environmental awareness and education, we are directing the attention of future leaders to the importance of protecting the environment.”
The EAD initiatives support international environmental education projects, he stressed.
“For example, the recent World Environmental Education Congress was held for the first time in Abu Dhabi and showed our unwavering commitment to achieving unified action.”
The congress, which brought together representatives from more than 80 countries, included a Youth Environmental Education Congress (YEEC) to allow young change agents to discuss various environmental shortcomings.
“This dedicated conference provided an open forum to share ideas to champion a zero-carbon world. A testament to joined forces, YEEC also celebrated the collaborative efforts of universities in response to pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”
Al Midfai noted that another priority objective is the conservation of the UAE’s ecosystems, through monitoring and analysis, for generations to come.
“One of our programmes, the Murshed – Youth Rangers initiative, specifically aims to attract young people to actively participate in environmental conservation. Through practical experience, young rangers gain knowledge about the measurable impact of their actions, generating a sense of responsibility towards the preservation of the nation’s precious ecosystems,” Al Midfai stressed.
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