Students across the UAE will dedicate more learning time to climate change and action under a new cross-curricular plan

Under a new cross-curricular initiative to raise sustainability consciousness, students across the UAE will spend more time studying climate change and taking action.

All UAE students will be exposed to activities and lessons on energy, the Earth biosphere, consumption and climate action, and sustainability innovation as part of the new cross-curricular framework being established by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in the lead-up to COP28, which begins in November.

The programme is a component of the Green Education Partnership, which also calls for half of all colleges and universities to pursue accreditation as green institutions.

The MoE also disclosed that it is creating an Education Pavilion for COP28, which will be the convention's first specifically designated educational facility.

at the launch of the partnership in the capital, Dr Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, said: “Individual behaviours toward climate change are still the key to making a real impact, and with that comes the significant role of education in shifting minds, actions, and attitudes about the environment today, and in the future.”

He further said: “At the MoE, we have a critical role to play to advance the role of education in addressing climate change, by building environment-friendly curricula and schools and training educators to build sustainable green communities. The UAE’s hosting of COP28 presents another opportunity to highlight the country’s efforts in this field and mobilise international efforts to include green education within educational systems in the region and the world.”

The UAE is keen to draw a practical and agile roadmap that countries across the globe can tailor, adapt to, and benefit from in educating students and educators about climate change, the minister said.