| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.78 |
| Liaison | Julia Carlow |
| Submission Date | July 25, 2024 |
American University of Sharjah
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Julia
Carlow Acting Head of Sustainability Sustainability |
Local advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:
AUS has a long-standing tradition working closely with Sharjah-based EPAA (Environment and Protected Areas Authority). The AUS Department of Environmental Sciences has been working with members from EPAA on monitoring the status of the Wasit Nature Reserve which was declared as a protected area in 2007. Members of AUS and a team from EPAA are regularly collecting water samples and analyzing them in situ and in the AUS laboratories to assess its status. Through this ongoing project AUS has successfully raised awareness with the Sharjah government about the vulnerability of wetland ecosystems, the significance of local wetland ecosystem conservation and has been advocating for the declaration of more conservation areas in Sharjah.
Environment & Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) was established in 1998 to represent a quantum leap in the environmental strategy of the Emirate of Sharjah and a new methodology to develop the institutional structures of the environmental management. Among the most important achievements of the authority were the establishment of partnership relation on the regional and national levels embodied in a comprehensive set of plans and joint scientific and field research to protect the species and habitats and exchange the information about the best systematic methods and practices on the establishment of the protected areas, as well as rehabilitation, development and safeguard the ecosystems in the region. Moreover, promote the effectiveness of the environmental management as well as environmental awareness and education plans. (Source: https://epaashj.ae/who-we-are/d-g-message/)
The Sharjah Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) seeks to set systematic environmental plans that can be achieved to develop environmental policies and legislation which enable the actual contribution to the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, and the preservation of ecological human quality, and raise the level of environmental awareness, and achieve harmony between development and environmental protection in the Emirate of Sharjah. (Source: https://epaashj.ae/who-we-are/our-strategy/)
For further information regarding Wasit Nature Reserve, please visit: http://www.epaashj.ae/protected-areas/wasit-nature-reserve/
For further information regarding the corresponding research findings, visit:
Regional advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
AUS has been actively supporting the "Regional Consortium on Science for Environmental Policy" hosted by UNEP, the UN Environment Program. The Regional Scientific Consortium is a platform that allows the scientific community in West Asia to come together for stronger science-based policy changes and aims to mend the miscommunication between policymakers and scientists.
The Regional Consortium on Science for Environmental Policy with the aim to solve the silo
approach, and developing the knowledge on strengthening the science policy interface, will
apply the following objectives:
- To scale up the engagement of West Asia Region in environmental policy globally.
To empower governments and other stakeholders in West Asia to make evidence-
based decisions for tackling climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and waste and pollution.
The responsibility of the consortium is to promote the importance of science policy interface in West Asia. This will be achieved through the development of policy relevant information and through increase the capacity of actors of the policy process and professionals along with the universities of the region. Keeping the members informed regarding the latest scientific developments in the field of science policy, its mitigation measures, and placing those developments in a wider context. More specifically, the consortium will:
- Develop science policy briefs regarding science policy interface challenges.
- Conduct webinars and trainings channels to widely disseminate knowledge and
information on science policy interface.
- Facilitate the development of a curriculum relevant to the thematic areas
- Provide trainings lead by experts regarding science policy interface targeting students.
- Develop baselines and knowledge on science policy interface.
In carrying out its responsibilities, the expert consortium will use an interdisciplinary team
approach for answering questions from policymakers. This will help the consortium panel to be
more action oriented and focused on benefits and opportunities.
More information can be found here:
https://www.unep.org/events/online-event/regional-consortium-science-environmental-policy
National advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
In 2021, AUS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates Nature-WWF to collaborate closely in research, student training and employment, and to bridge the gap between academia, government decision-makers and industry.
Following the MoU, faculty from the AUS Environmental Science Department has been engaged in collaborative research with Emirates Nature - WWF advocating for legislation that protects oyster beds in the United Arab Emirates.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375120783_Oyster_Beds_and_Reefs_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates
AUS professor Dr. Samara is the Co-Chair of the UAE Climate Change Research Network (CCRN), established by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, which aims to facilitate dissemination of knowledge and advance development of research collaborations. Governance in the CCRN allows AUS to colaborate closely with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment to identify knowledge and data gaps, and advocate for a relevant climate science agenda for the country.
the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is responsible for proposing legislation and formulate plans, strategies, policies, programs and initiatives that mitigate the impact of climate change in the country. The CCRN was founded to consult academics in the policy-making process.
As a first-of-its-kind network of climate scientists in the UAE, CCRN aims to facilitate dissemination of knowledge as well as advance research collaborations on climate change and its impacts in the UAE and the region. Through its five thematic research clusters, CCRN strengthens climate data collection and policy-relevant research, which is particularly important since the UAE currently does not have a central database to support research on climate change. For more information on the Network, please refer to the CCRN web link below: https://www.moccae.gov.ae/en/climate-change-research-network-about.aspx
AUS has been advocating for evidence-based decision-making when developing policies that address climate change. Dr. Fatin Samara, a leading figure in the UAE’s climate change research community and a Professor of Environmental Sciences at American University of Sharjah (AUS) used her presence at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) to call for more collaboration between scientists in the fight against climate change.
Representing AUS and the UAE Climate Change Research Network (CCRN), the latter of which she co-chairs, Dr. Samara addressed COP27 audiences at the following sessions:
- Science-Driven Policy in Climate Action, hosted by the CCRN
- Science Policy-Interface for Climate Action, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN) and the UN Resident Coordinator Office in the UAE
- Science-Policy Implementation Interface for Food Systems Transportation and National Adaption Plan Implementation in the Middle East and Africa
International advocacy
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
AUS is an active supporter of the the American Chemical Society, a non-profit scientific and educational organization, chartered by Congress, with more than 158,000 chemical scientists and engineers as members. The world’s largest scientific society, ACS advances the chemical enterprise, increases public awareness of chemistry, and brings its expertise to state and national matters.
The ACS supports US government action that develops water-use guidelines and initiatives; encourages advancements in water reduction, treatment, and reuse technologies; protects groundwater resources; and prevents discharge of toxic substances into ground and surface waters.
AUS has been actively contributing to the "Water Treatment and Conservation Public Policy Statement" which aims to address issues of water availability and treatment in the USA, sharing its research expertise in a drought affected country like the UAE.
As part of this policy paper, the American Chemical Society recommends that the United States
• Support the maintenance, upgrades, or construction of public water infrastructure to
provide consistent and equitable access to clean and safe drinking water.
• Encourage innovations to decrease demands for water in energy production.
• Support technologies, management practices and infrastructure in the agricultural
sector that reduce water use, increase water recycling, and minimize the
environmental pollution.
• Encourage innovations within industrial plants:
o to reduce or eliminate the amount of water used in their processes,
o to create a closed water cycle by recycling and reusing as much water on site as
possible,
o and to develop processes to reduce or eliminate the discharge of toxic substances
into ground and surface waters, including municipal/regional water supplies.
• Foster research and processes that expand the water resources to include
reclaimed water, brackish water, and seawater.
• Increase research and planning for climate-driven changes in the availability of
water.
More information can be found here:
https://www.acs.org/policy/publicpolicies/sustainability/water-statement.html
Optional Fields
AUS has been working with Ajman Municipality, UmalQuwain Municipality and Sharjah EPAA on a multidisciplinary study of Oyster Beds as Bioindicators of Current Environmental and Societal Challenges in Coastal Areas of the UAE. This project, lead by AUS, also incorporates collaboration from Emirates Nature-WWF and Higher Colleges of Technology, and hence signifies an important collaboration between academia, non-profit and government on a regional, multi-emirate level.
AUS has also been advocating for evidence-based decision-making when developing policies that address climate change. Dr. Fatin Samara, a leading figure in the UAE’s climate change research community and a Professor of Environmental Sciences at American University of Sharjah (AUS) used her presence at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) to call for more collaboration between scientists in the fight against climate change.
Representing AUS and the UAE Climate Change Research Network (CCRN), the latter of which she co-chairs, Dr. Samara addressed COP27 audiences at the following sessions:
- Science-Driven Policy in Climate Action, hosted by the CCRN
- Science Policy-Interface for Climate Action, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN) and the UN Resident Coordinator Office in the UAE
- Science-Policy Implementation Interface for Food Systems Transportation and National Adaption Plan Implementation in the Middle East and Africa
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Information received from Prof. Fatin Samara, Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences on Monday, March 8th 2021
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