Abu Dhabi’s Sustainable Schools Initiative Earns Prestigious 7-Star Award

Abu Dhabi's flagship Sustainable Schools Initiative (SSI), led by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), has celebrated a remarkable achievement by receiving a 7-star rating, the pinnacle of recognition, during the 11th International Best Practice Competition (IBPC) 2025 held in New Zealand.

This award cements SSI’s position at the forefront of the 4th Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Excellence Awards, distinguishing it as one of just 15 worldwide initiatives to attain this honour. The competition itself featured over 110 proposals from a combination of three nations and 15 organizations.

Since its inception in 2009, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and the Ministry of Education, SSI has evolved into the UAE's premier environmental education program. It inspires students to engage in sustainable practices through initiatives such as Green Audits, Eco Clubs, Outdoor Education, and teacher training courses.

The initiative has earned accolades from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which identified SSI as a benchmark for global sustainability education. SSI is additionally engaged in the Greening Education Partnership alongside the Ministry of Education and UNESCO.

Currently, SSI encompasses over 562 schools throughout the UAE, making it the most extensive environmental education network in the country.

In the past academic year, 20,287 students participated in Green Audits, while 7,494 joined Eco Clubs, contributing to 1,018 environmental projects and initiatives. Furthermore, 70,592 students engaged in Outdoor Education activities, fostering a direct connection with nature. Teacher development is a key focus, with 4,709 educators trained in the program.

From 2022 to 2024, schools involved in the program reported an average recycling of 2,442 litres of water per student, alongside a total of 241,435 kilograms of waste recycled. Additionally, 71,864 school members embraced energy-saving measures.

Judges from IBPC commended SSI for its advancements in digital innovation, highlighting an online platform that enables schools to self-assess and monitor their annual performance. The program also launched the e-Green e-learning platform, facilitating teacher training across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra, thereby minimizing travel-related carbon emissions.

Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of the Environment Information Science and Outreach Management Sector at EAD, remarked that this award underlines Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader in sustainability education. He emphasized SSI’s role in fostering a generation of students committed to environmental responsibility, innovation, and sustainable practices.

With this distinguished recognition, EAD intends to amplify SSI’s influence, enhance its digital resources, and extend its successful model globally to nurture sustainability education for coming generations.