The Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) has completed preparations for the launch of the Sharjah Sustainability Award (SSA) 8^th edition, that comprises Green Schools and Universities categories , aim to encourage students to engage through asking them to develop projects, ideas and activities to improve their environments in the interests of working towards a sustainable green environment in line with international specifications.

The concept for SSA was adopted by the Executive Council and launched in 2012 in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who is keen to emphasise the importance of sustainable development by protecting the environment and conserving Sharjah’s biodiversity.

SSA aims to strengthen the principles of sustainable development in the educational sector – one of society’s largest and most important sectors, to enhance the role of environmental education and its importance in achieving the objectives of sustainable development in the educational sector, to spread the concept of environmental culture among students at schools and universities, and to promote a sense of responsibility for the environment by giving students a key role in the SSA project. SSA encourages students and individuals’ efforts to achieve a green economy and a balanced relationship with natural ecosystems.

SSA’s main focus is the implementation of a sustainable environmental project in one of the categories in order to promote a green economy and sustainable development. The winner will receive a cash prize, the Sharjah Sustainability Award trophy and a certificate of excellence; other participants will receive certificates of participation.

SSA is aimed at preparatory and secondary students, university students in any department and members of schools’ administrative and teaching staff. SSA has 7 domains for schools; Rationalising the consumption of water and electricity; a sustainable environmental application project; designing three environmental models to conserve biodiversity in the Arabian Peninsula; the creative writing (a short story about the sustainable tree – Al Ghaf); and producing a short film about the negative impacts of global warming and climate change on the sustainability of biodiversity in the Arabian Peninsula; Green School; and Outstanding Individual in the environment field.

The domains for university students include: Designing a practical and sustainable solution to protect the environment and promote sustainable development in the UAE; applied and assessment research; producing a short film about ways to protect biodiversity in the Arabian Peninsula from threats; sustainable building design; a sustainable campus on ways to reduce energy consumption; and photography (submitting five images representing the most significant threats to biodiversity in the Arabian Peninsula).

HE Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, EPAA Chairperson, said, “Sharjah Sustainability Award aims to promote the concept of a sustainable green environment. EPAA’s activities include environmental programmes in schools and universities; these programmes are important because they aim to promote sustainability by conserving environment natural resources and biodiversity. They also help to raise awareness among specific segments of society, enabling EPAA to achieve its objectives by promoting the preservation of the environment and the conservation of biodiversity.”

Mrs Al Suwaidi explained that the SSA’s vision is a sustainable green environment. SSA’s mission emphasises the importance of encouraging different groups of students at schools and universities to compete to introduce, create and implement sustainable solutions to pressing environmental problems. This will help to enhance awareness about the importance of preserving the environment and make sustainable development in educational environments a reality.

SSA’s objective is to promote partnership in environmental initiatives, a key pillar in Sharjah’s efforts to protect environmental resources and conserve biodiversity. The inclusion of schools, universities and official institutions as environmental actors will contribute to the creation of a green environment within a sustainable framework.