Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi plays a vital role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 15, which focuses on life on land, through its commitment to environmental education, research, and community engagement. The university emphasizes the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation in its curricula, fostering awareness among students about the challenges facing terrestrial ecosystems. Additionally, it engages in research initiatives that explore sustainable land management practices and restoration efforts in the region. By partnering with local organizations and participating in conservation projects, Sorbonne Abu Dhabi not only contributes to the protection of natural habitats but also encourages a culture of sustainability among its students and the broader community, helping to ensure the preservation of land ecosystems for future generations.
As part of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Go Green 2023 initiative, which is aimed at raising awareness and cultivating initiatives that address climate change challenges with the goal of moving towards a more sustainable future, the university held a Mangrove Planting initiative. The initiative focused on planting 65 mangrove trees on Al Reem Island, thus contributing to the Go Green 2023 environmental goals.
The initiative that took place in partnership with Nature for Environmental and Agricultural Solutions L.L.C, offered an opportunity for the University community to actively engage in offsetting the negative effects of logging and use in paper production and involved 40 participants from students, faculty, and staff. Through this collaborative effort, the University was able to plant the exact number of trees that corresponded to the amount of paper consumed by the university annually in an attempt to take a further step towards sustainability and creating a better world for everyone.
Our facility management SERCO, encouraged all staff to plant and track their own forest tree, working towards minimizing our impact on the environment and promoting the community to take steps towards sustainability.
We believe in the importance of protecting the environment and caring for our communities as part of our responsibility as a corporate citizen. Every tree we plant is a step towards a healthier and more sustainable future, not just for us but for generations to come.
Trees provide countless benefits, from cleaning the air we breathe to reducing our carbon footprint and supporting biodiversity. By planting trees, we are taking meaningful action to mitigate the impacts of climate change and contribute to a better world for everyone.
The presentation/conference highlights the importance of forest conservation, traditional knowledge, and visual arts in Papua New Guinea. Protecting the primary rainforests is crucial for the preservation of our planet
The conference was part of one of the axes of COP28, focusing on damages. One key issue was how to represent nature in court and how to compensate for its damage. Since nature does not have legal personality, ways had to be found to represent it. For example, associations dedicated to environmental protection were used, and nature parks could be granted legal personality. The question was raised: was this sufficient, or was it necessary to grant legal personality to other aspects of nature, like bird populations or forests? The conference also addressed how to assess and repair such damage, including whether reparation could be done in kind. Both public and private international law were involved, as the damage was often transnational. The discussions also covered legal representation, prevention, and compensation for environmental damages, with stakeholders specifying how legal professionals in the UAE approached these issues and the existing protection measures.
Organised by the SUAD Library, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali bin Rashid Al Nuaimi
The talk organised by Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi’s Library highlights and discusses the philosophy and actions of the Green Sheikh, who advocates for a sustainable future rooted in respect of the planet, its people, and its resources. The message is a call for action to individuals to make sustainable choices and work together to create a better world. The ultimate goal is a future where everyone can thrive and live fulfilling lives without compromising the needs of future generations.
Dr Stéphane Desruelles Associate Professor of Geography &Head of Department, Geography & Planning, SUAD, Dr Caroline Autret Assistant Professor of History of Art & Head of Department History of Art & Archaeology.
This multidisciplinary project aimed to understand the context of the paleo-environmental evolution in the arid environment and the interplay between human occupation and climatic variability during the last 11560 years. It focused on Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve following a series of collaborative efforts between the reserve conservation team and SUAD. The reserve, being “undisturbed”, allows the evaluation of the archaeological and environmental analogues of the past to better understand both the ancient and future desert environments considering a changing climate.
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