Twenty seven schools in Abu Dhabi participating in the Sustainable Schools Initiative (Al Madaris Al Mustadama) implemented by the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi (EAD) and sponsored by BP will be measuring their outdoor air quality in collaboration with NILU, the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, as a part of their Green School Audit .
NILU, which is helping EAD in developing a strategy to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, is responsible for the management, operation and maintenance of an air and noise quality monitoring network operated by EAD and located in different areas around Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Four of these 27 schools are located outside the range of EAD’s air monitoring station’s network and therefore NILU will be sending their mobile air quality monitoring unit to these schools, where the students can successfully complete their air audit under the supervision of NILU’s engineers who will be available to help the students to interpret their data readings and further explain the significance of outdoor air quality and the impact it poses on human health.
EAD has identified four schools to set up the unit and be used by schools for measuring their outdoor air quality. These areas include the Abu Dhabi Indian School in Muroor area, Al Danah School on Najdah, Abu Dhabi Grammar School in Tourist Club Area and Al Mawahib School in Bateen. Students from nearby schools will also come to these locations to help measure the data.
“The Green School Audit” is one of the Sustainable Schools Initiative’s main components, in which students are required to measure their environmental impact within school premises in five main areas that include air, water, waste, land and energy.
For outdoor air quality students will measure pollutants like SO2, NOx , CO, ozone, suspended particles, lead and particulate matter in which the extent of exposure to this adversely affects people especially woman and children.
Ziad Yassin, the Environment Coordinator at Al Nahda Boys School says – “We just found out from the water audit that 59,000 liters of water is used everyday just for maintaining the school’s green area! It is shocking to see how much resources we are actually consuming. The children never realize all these things and now with the audit they are able to make the connections”.
About Sustainable Schools Initiative
Sustainable Schools Initiative (Al Madaris Al Mustadama) is a ‘whole school’ initiative, launched by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi last September, supported by the Emirate’s educational authorities. The initiative addresses students, parents, teachers and even non-teaching staff. It links them with the community through varied activities and promotes environmental sustainability in Abu Dhabi Emirate with concrete deliverables. Sponsored by BP this programme was developed to operate for the next five years.
The initiative consists of four main components:-
• Environment Club- The schools have to start an environment club in their schools and run it.
• Green School Auditing - They have to assess their own environmental impact for land, water, waste, air and energy and find measures for mitigation.
• Training of Trainers - Teachers are trained on how to incorporate environmental concepts in their individual subjects and integrate them with the curriculum.
• Field Trips - Here students are taken on field trips to the desert or a wetland and exposed to the ecosystem and learn about the plants, animals etc.
About Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is a government agency that was established in 1996. It is committed to protecting and managing biodiversity, providing a clean environment and promoting Sustainable Development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. EAD provides a direction for Government, business and the community to build environmental considerations into the way they plan and live without compromising Abu Dhabi development. EAD has been promoting public environmental awareness since it was established. The Agency’s programmes include the Enviro-spellathon, which attracts more than 120,000 students across the Emirate every year and the Annual Environment Competition. EAD’s environmental education efforts have won several awards including the International Globe Energy Award and the GCC Award for Environment Education and Awareness. For more information, visit www.ead.ae
About BP
BP is one of the world’s largest companies with operations in more than 100 countries on six continents. The company’s main activities are oil & gas exploration and production, refining, marketing and supply & transportation. BP’s regional exploration and production operations are headquartered in Abu Dhabi, while Dubai serves as the hub for BP’s refining and marketing activities.
Operations in Abu Dhabi include 5 joint ventures with ADNOC with shareholdings in Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA), Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operators (ADCO), Bunduq Company Limited, Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Limited (ADGAS), and the National Gas Shipping Company (NGSCO). BP is an anchor partner of the Masdar alternative energy initiative. Visit www.bp.com/middleeast for more information.
For Further Information, Please Contact:
Mrs. Sobhia El Masri
Senior Media Relations Coordinator
Environment Awareness Sector
Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi
Tel: +9712 6934637
Mobile: +97150 4450323
Fax: +9712 4464799
Email: selmasri@ead.ae
Website: www.ead.ae
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