The Ministry of Education announced that the Greening Education Hub, themed ‘Legacy from the Land of Zayed’ and hosted by the Ministry at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), welcomed over 18,000 visitors within its first week, exceeding the anticipated total number of visitors for the conference’s duration.
During this time, the Hub welcomed nearly 900 students from 28 schools across the country and hosted more than 185 workshops and interactive sessions on education and climate-related topics.
Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Care and Capacity Building Sector at the Ministry of Education, said, “We are proud of the accomplishments of the Greening Education Hub, as it aligns with our ongoing mission to bring about real change for a better future. By empowering the educational sector and bolstering its environmental role, we aim to foster a significant impact. The Ministry of Education has been dedicated to offering a unique space for visitors, including teachers, children, and students, with the aim of enhancing their skills, raising awareness, and fostering sustainable practices. Our goal is to extend the positive impact beyond COP28, embodying a lasting commitment to environmental preservation.”
Dr. Al Shamsi added, “Our heartfelt gratitude extends to all those who played a crucial role in contributing to this success. This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of various stakeholders, notably the Ministry’s strategic partners, international organisations, public and private schools, and UAE-based educational institutions. Their support and active participation underscore the significance of education in addressing sustainability issues. As we anticipate the days ahead, filled with a rich agenda of insights, analyses, discussions and workshops, we eagerly look forward to welcoming more visitors.”
On the seventh day of COP28, the Ministry organised 28 workshops and discussion sessions at the Hub, covering various topics, such as ‘Translating global net-zero commitments to local action: The learning city approach to greening communities’, ‘Greening of schools and communities for social transformation’, ‘Environmental Engineering Technologies’, ‘Greening Higher Education: Transforming Competences and Practices’, and ‘Educating Youth on Climate Diplomacy ‘.
Over the coming days, the Greening Education Hub is set to host around 100 workshops and panel discussions. It will also be the venue for significant events such as the Education Day celebration, the Green Education Retreat, the inaugural meeting of the Green Education Partnership, and a high-level session titled ‘Climate work begins in the classroom: Empowering every teacher to have it’. This is in addition to the ‘Educator’s Voice’ event, which will be organised in collaboration with the Office for Climate Education (OCE) and Alef Education, in addition to an interactive event with students around the AI-powered tutor initiative (AI Tutor).