AUS leads sector-wide push on climate action as new UAE climate law takes effect

American University of Sharjah (AUS) has been building on its strong foundation in climate action and sustainability to help the broader higher education sector prepare for the UAE’s landmark Federal Decree-Law on the Reduction of Climate Change Effects, which came into effect at the end of May. Through a series of workshops, working groups and senior stakeholder engagements, the university’s Office of Sustainability has been helping institutions across the UAE prepare for the new law, which now requires local institutions and organizations to monitor and report their greenhouse gas emissions.

Strengthening the higher education sector’s role in national climate action

AUS is a founding member of the UAE Universities Climate Network (UCN), and currently co-leads UCN’s Campus Decarbonization initiative in collaboration with Ajman University. As part of this role, it has been actively guiding peer institutions to prepare for the new legal requirements through collaboration and capacity-building initiatives focused on data transparency, carbon accounting and other topics related to climate action. Most recently, the two universities launched the UCN Decarbonization Academy, a series of capacity-building workshops designed to build momentum on climate action and emissions reporting within the UAE's higher education landscape. 

“AUS has long shared its knowledge, resources and expertise with institutions across the UAE.  Launching the UCN Campus Decarbonization Academy is the latest in a series of strategic, high-level engagements we have undertaken over the years aimed at driving positive change in support of climate action beyond AUS,” said Julia Carlow, Associate Head of Sustainability at AUS. “Our leadership in the UCN reflects a broader institutional ethos. AUS is deeply committed to supporting the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision and empowering the higher education sector in the UAE to support the country’s decarbonization journey.”

Advancing transparency and accuracy in emissions reporting

During a recent presentation to UCN’s members, Carlow shared results from AUS’ 2024–2025 greenhouse gas emissions report. She described how AUS recently recorded a significant reduction in Scope 2 emissions—those associated with purchased electricity—thanks in part to the ongoing success of campus-wide energy efficiency initiatives. She also shared the challenges faced in accounting for and reporting Scope 3 emissions—including those generated by external suppliers—and explained the latest accounting methodologies AUS has employed to account for their emissions. She noted that these have led to measurable improvements in reporting from campus vendors and partners, a significant step forward ahead of the new law. By actively sharing AUS' reporting processes and data, the university has not only helped to promote transparency around emissions tracking and methodologies, it has also supported other institutions to improve their emissions accounting and reporting efforts.

Beyond AUS: creating positive change locally and internationally

In addition to its leadership role in the UCN, AUS is also an advisory committee member to the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA), a coalition of organizations in the UAE focused on addressing climate change and advancing decarbonization among non-state actors. Dr. Steven Griffiths, Vice Chancellor for Research, is a member of the UACA Advisory Committee. Dr Griffiths and Carlow recently attended the third UACA Advisory Committee meeting, where they shared AUS’ research expertise to support UACA’s latest initiatives such as the Road2.0 initiative, which aims to catalyze the decarbonization of commercial transport in the UAE.

“Ultimately, our work is grounded in collaboration—for the good of the UAE and for future generations,” said Carlow. “We’re investing in robust sustainability systems, building coalitions and fostering a culture of climate responsibility across the higher education sector.”

Promoting UAE-wide youth engagement in climate action

Alongside its high-level stakeholder engagement initiatives within UCN and UACA, AUS has also provided numerous opportunities for its students to engage in or lead more grassroots sustainability initiatives. For example, AUS EcoRep and third-year mechanical engineering student, Khadijah Ali, was recently selected to represent AUS in the UCN’s first Youth Ambassador Program. This 12-month initiative will bring together student leaders from UCN’s member universities to advocate for climate action, collaborate on sustainability projects and engage their university communities in advancing the UAE’s climate goals.

Throughout the year, AUS’ students have taken part in beach clean-ups, delivered renewable energy training to underserved youth and taken part in the Greening with Science, Technology and Innovation Bootcamp—an initiative led by a group of UN agencies—that resulted in AUS student teams designing several cutting-edge sustainability innovations.

Through these and other initiatives, AUS is cultivating a culture where climate action is driven from the ground up, empowering students and faculty to work alongside the Office of Sustainability to build a more sustainable future.

To learn more about AUS’ sustainability efforts, visit www.aus.edu/sustainability.