Ajman University Shapes National Climate Resilience at UAE Adaptation Plan Consultation

Ajman University has reinforced its role as a key advisor to the nation’s climate agenda through its active participation in the official government consultation sessions for the UAE National Climate Adaptation Plan (NAP). The high-level meeting, led by the national Climate Change Team and GGGI, focused on integrating social equity and robust governance into the core of the country's strategy to build resilience against climate impacts.

The consultation served as a critical platform to ensure the plan is both inclusive and effective. University representatives contributed expert insights on two foundational pillars of the NAP: conducting a Gender and Social Safeguards Assessment and establishing a Climate Governance Baseline.

“Contributing to the UAE's National Adaptation Plan is a responsibility we hold with the utmost importance,” said a senior sustainability lead from Ajman University. “Climate change does not impact everyone equally. Our input ensures that the national strategy is not only scientifically sound but also socially just, protecting vulnerable groups and leveraging the strengths of all segments of society. This aligns perfectly with our university’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development.”

The session centered on several key national objectives, where AU’s expertise proved invaluable:

• Ensuring Inclusive Adaptation: Providing input to guarantee the NAP mitigates negative social impacts and promotes sustainable development for all people in the UAE.

• Mapping Social Safeguards: Helping to identify key policies related to gender equality and socioeconomic development that are relevant to climate adaptation.

• Strengthening Institutional Capacity: Contributing to the assessment of stakeholder capacity to implement inclusive and equitable climate policies.

• Fostering Collaborative Governance: Engaging as a key stakeholder to ensure the NAP is widely supported, participatory, and effectively addresses the nation's adaptation needs.

Following the session, Ajman University is also contributing to two vital national surveys emanating from the consultation, further solidifying its partnership in the plan's development.

This direct engagement underscores Ajman University’s strategic alignment with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambition and its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By lending its academic and professional expertise to this foundational national policy, the university continues to demonstrate its vital role in building a more resilient and sustainable future for the United Arab Emirates.