Three students from the Student Leadership Program (SLP) at American University of Sharjah participated in the Climate Leadership Conference held in San Diego, California February 24-26, 2014.

The Climate Leadership Conference is not only an annual exchange for addressing global climate change through policy, innovation and business solutions, it is also considered a platform for powerful collaboration. Forward-thinking leaders from business, government academia, and the non-profit community convene to share energy- and climate-related solutions, introduce new opportunities, and provide support for those addressing climate change in their operations.

"First, I would like to thank the Student Leadership Program for giving me this great opportunity. It was my first trip with the university, and for a pure academic reason, which made it memorable and beneficial in all aspects," said Fatma Al Yousuf, a junior student majoring in both computer engineering and biology. "Going to the conference opened my eyes to a future full of inventions and ideas for a better climate. Big and small companies showed how they follow and create environmental laws. I was really motivated to be surrounded by professionals and to know that we can make a difference in the laws to protect our planet."

According to Maha Al Shehhi, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, "The Climate Leadership Conference offered great insight into how the world is dealing with climate change. I was motivated to take a deeper look into how our climate is changing globally. I benefited greatly from the dozens of experts who attended the conference and suggested great solutions to facing climate change. I found the merging of the business, scientific, and academic worlds particularly interesting."

"During the conference, SLP students tackled issues concerning climate change and understood how decisions made by governments and businesses can greatly affect our world. Students learned the importance of taking action towards climate change through various means of commitment. They got a chance to network and better recognize their role in contributing to the road towards reducing emissions," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.