AUS students lead UAE-wide climate dialogue ahead of COP30

Photo caption: HECD 2025 Head Organizers and AUS EcoReps Khadijah Minhas, Jasmin Johory and Pimnethi Phaiboonwong (from left to right)

American University of Sharjah (AUS) recently hosted the sixth edition of the student-led Higher Education Climate Dialogues (HECD) under the theme Synergies for Climate Action. The conference brought together students, academics, industry leaders and policymakers from across the UAE to explore collaborative approaches to advancing national and global climate goals ahead of COP30, which is taking place this month in Brazil.

A student-led initiative, HECD is planned and run annually by student committees from AUS and selected member institutions of the UAE Universities Climate Network, with institutional support from the AUS Office of Sustainability, which has guided the initiative since its launch six years ago.

“This year’s theme highlights the importance of collective action in addressing complex climate challenges,” said Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS. “As a top-ranking American liberal arts university, AUS is committed to harnessing the power of education and research for the betterment of society. By empowering students to lead initiatives such as the Higher Education Climate Dialogues, we help them translate knowledge into impact and prepare to drive the sustainability goals that will shape our shared future.”

Through keynote talks, panel discussions and interactive workshops, participants examined ways to strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions, businesses and government agencies in support of the UAE Net Zero 2050 strategy and the outcomes of COP28, which was held in Dubai. Sessions included panels on youth climate leadership, the evolving role of NGOs in sustainable advocacy, and the long-term impact of the AUS EcoRep program in shaping environmental changemakers beyond campus, reflecting the growing depth and reach of student-driven climate dialogue across the country

“The HECD has grown from a small student initiative into a national, youth-led platform for climate collaboration,” said Julia Carlow, Associate Head of Sustainability at AUS. “Each year builds on the last, connecting campuses, industries and communities in the collective pursuit of sustainability. It has been incredibly rewarding to witness students carrying forward  the legacy of COP28, showing us how student leadership and inter-campus collaboration can turn climate dialogue into lasting impact.”

“What makes HECD special is that it’s completely student-driven,” said Khadijah Mihas, an AUS EcoRep. “It’s very empowering as a student to be able to connect ideas, institutions and people who can make real change happen. Being part of a national platform like this has made it clear to me that collaboration and teamwork lie at the heart of turning awareness into action.”

As part of this year’s program, HECD introduced the Art and Photography Competition, centered on the themes of food, climate, health and nature. The competition invited students to creatively explore the relationship between sustainability and daily life for a chance to win prizes.

Since its inception, HECD has grown into one of the leading platforms for youth engagement in climate action in the UAE. The annual conference strengthens partnerships between universities, aligns campus initiatives with the country’s climate strategy and amplifies student voices in national and global sustainability discussions.

More information about the initiative and this year’s highlights is available on Instagram @hecdconference.

For details on AUS sustainability initiatives, visit www.aus.edu/sustainability.