Sustainability

At American University of Sharjah, sustainability is embedded in everything we do. We are committed to promoting an environmentally conscious campus, integrating sustainability into academics, research and operations while engaging our community in impactful initiatives.

Message from the AUS Head of Sustainability

Sustainability has become a central topic in global dialogue for all institutions, regardless of the industry they operate within or their geographical location. At AUS, we acknowledge the importance of sustainability and its crucial role in ensuring the future well-being of our campus and our world.

To achieve the broader goals we have set for ourselves as an institution, we know we must prioritize sustainability. We are committed to refreshing AUS’ sustainability strategy to better serve the communities on campus and beyond.

Currently, we are focusing on understanding and reducing our environmental footprint, supporting the health and well-being of our community, and weaving sustainability more deeply into our academics and campus life.   

Our approach has been pragmatic and holistic. We focus on raising awareness and mobilizing our community while finding and implementing practical solutions to our sustainability challenges. By harmonizing these elements, we strive to create a unified direction towards our sustainability goals and share learnings with the wider UAE and global sustainability communities.

 Looking ahead, we intend to collaborate even more closely with the communities and stakeholders we serve to develop solutions that benefit others within the education sector and beyond. While I am conscious of the many challenges ahead, I am confident in our collective abilities as an AUS community to join hands and make meaningful progress towards a more sustainable AUS and beyond.

Omar Al Nuaimi
Head of Sustainability

Source: AASHE STARS Report

Having made climate action a central institutional focus and reinforced our role as a leader in sustainability within the region, AUS is accelerating efforts to reduce emissions, advance sustainability research and deepen engagement across its campus community. Through our Climate Action Plan, strategic partnerships, data-driven initiatives and student-centered programming, we are actively shaping a more resilient and climate-conscious future.

Our commitment to decarbonization and resilience is reflected in our operations. Having implemented energy and water conservation projects on campus, we have enhanced building thermal efficiency and upgraded cooling and water systems through ongoing building renovations to promote energy and water efficiency in line with ESTIDAMA, the UAE’s green building standards framework. We have also expanded electric vehicle charging stations on campus to reduce transport emissions.

Further, AUS partnered with Southpole to complete our first greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions study, establishing a baseline and setting science-based reduction targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Since then, we have worked with internal stakeholders to improve data collection, closing gaps and enhancing the accuracy of our annual GHG reports.

AUS also adopted the eMission digital tool by UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA) tool to track and report emissions across three internationally recognized scopes as outlined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard–Revised Edition (the GHG Protocol).

Our efforts have led to a significant decrease in indirect emissions, showing that we are on track to meet our net zero targets. Over the past four years, emissions across all scopes have remained relatively consistent. In 2024, a significant drop in our Scope 2 emissions was registered due to energy efficiency retrofits on campus, specifically in academic buildings.

Collaborations

As part of our growing dedication to environmental sustainability, the university has embraced Nature as an important pillar of our sustainability agenda this year. This focus recognizes the urgent need to restore biodiversity, protect natural ecosystems and promote harmony between people and the planet. Through partnerships and hands-on student initiatives, AUS is aligning education, research and community engagement to help shape a nature-positive future for the UAE and beyond.

Nature Positive Universities Network

AUS recently made a pledge with Nature Positive Universities to lead the way in protecting and restoring local biodiversity. Setting and meeting ambitious targets for nature is vital to protecting life on earth and ensuring a liveable planet for future generations, and universities have a unique opportunity to lead and influence their communities on this important journey.

The Nature Positive Universities Network is a global alliance of higher education institutions working to reverse nature loss and restore biodiversity. It aims to embed nature-positive values into campus operations, academic curricula, research and community engagement. Members commit to assessing their environmental impact, setting biodiversity goals and reporting on progress annually. Following the pledge, AUS has launched a year-long project to discover and highlight key areas in its operations, teaching and research that are contributing to biodiversity damage while working on a comprehensive Nature Action Plan that compliments the AUS Climate Action Plan.

Food is more than just nourishment—it’s a powerful driver for sustainability, well-being and community connection. Recognizing its impact on both human and planetary health, AUS has identified Food as one of its core sustainability pillars. Through diverse initiatives that include locally sourced dining options, student-led farming, cooking programs and educational talks, we are cultivating a culture of conscious consumption, food literacy and environmental stewardship. We are empowering our community to make informed, healthy and sustainable food choices that contribute to a resilient future.

Health is a fundamental pillar of our sustainability efforts, intertwining physical well-being with the broader goals of environmental and community sustainability. The university recognizes that fostering a healthy population involves promoting awareness, research and education to create a holistic approach to personal and environmental health. Through research and educational initiatives, AUS is committed to exploring the vital connections between health, sustainability and lifestyle choices. We strive to equip our students with the knowledge and tools to live healthier lives while fostering a resilient and sustainable community for all.

We also promote student well-being through various mental health initiatives. Through our Office of Student Experience and several departments and programs, these initiatives contribute to social sustainability by promoting well-being, equity and resilience across the university community, aligning with SDGs 3 and 4. By reducing stigma, supporting vulnerable groups and building connected, healthy communities, these programs help create a sustainable academic environment where students can thrive.

Student Leadership on the Global Stage

Future17 SDG Challenge Program

AUS has been a proud partner of the Future17 SDG Challenge, a global initiative led by QS Quacquarelli Symonds and the University of Exeter. Multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary student teams mentored by selected faculty are matched with international corporations to work on an identified sustainability challenge. To date, the program has brought together over 300 students from nine universities to collaborate with 31 international organizations on real-world projects aligned with the UN SDGs. Participating in the challenge helps students apply academic knowledge to practical problems, enhancing their SDG literacy, and developing professional skills. The initiative reflects the university’s broader commitment to sustainability through education, research and campus engagement. 

UNESCO’s Greening with STI Bootcamp

AUS completed a pilot of the Greening with Science, Technology and Innovation Bootcamp, an interactive program to empower students as key change agents for climate action. Over 16 weeks, multidisciplinary student teams participated in a series of virtual capacity-building masterclasses and coaching sessions hosted by UNESCO that helped them gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development. Alongside the virtual learning component, the teams were mentored by AUS professors to co-design solutions addressing SDG 13 (Climate Action). The bootcamp has proven to be a transformative learning experience for both professors and students, resulting in student research projects that are relevant, innovative and suitable for commercialization. Through its innovative educational approach, the bootcamp facilitated interdisciplinary, intergenerational and intercultural learning for sustainable development. The finalized curriculum will serve as a blueprint for implementation at other institutions with the goal to foster creative, science-driven solutions for addressing climate challenges effectively through collaboration.

AUS fosters sustainable living on campus, both in the student residential halls and for the wider campus community.

• Initially launched as the Green Living Learning Community, the year-long Green Living Challenge immerses residential students in sustainable living. Through daily habits, interactive challenges and community engagement, resident students learn to reduce waste, conserve energy and make eco-conscious choices using the Green Living Guide. Held in collaboration with the Office of Student Experience, the program promotes awareness and responsibility, encouraging students to take meaningful action for a healthier planet.
• The Manbat Farmers Market brings fresh, locally grown produce to campus, connecting students, faculty and staff with local farmers.
• The Cook for Change program introduces first-year resident students to sustainability through hands-on cooking experiences. It helps them develop essential life skills and improve their food literacy, while highlighting the important connection between personal health and environmental sustainability.