Ajman University Champions Climate Action as Key Leader in UAE Universities Climate Network (Report 2025)

Ajman University Champions Climate Action as Key Leader in Universities Climate Network 2025 Report

Ajman University (AU) continues to solidify its position as a trailblazer in higher education sustainability, taking a central leadership role in the newly released UAE Universities Climate Network (UCN) 2025 Report. As one of the three leading institutions of the UCN—alongside Khalifa University and the University of Birmingham Dubai—AU is driving collaborative climate action across a rapidly growing network of 38 UAE-based universities and higher education institutions.

The 2025 report highlights a year of remarkable achievements, global engagement, and systemic impact. It prominently features Maya Haddad, Senior Sustainability Manager at Ajman University, who serves as the UCN Head of Operations and Co-Chair of the Communal Activation Pillar. Her leadership has been instrumental in bridging academic research with practical, community-driven climate solutions.

Operating through four key pillars—Student Youth Engagement, Communal Activations, Research & Innovation, and Campus Carbon Neutrality—the network’s 2025 milestones demonstrate the power of collective academic action. Among the most notable achievements was the UCN’s presence at COP30 in Belem, Brazil, where members delivered three high-impact workshops on ocean and cryosphere changes, accelerating the SDGs, and strengthening global research networks.

Furthermore, the network successfully launched the first cohort of the UCN Decarbonization Academy, which drew over 400 registered participants from beyond the higher education sector. The UCN also launched the Youth Ambassador Program, hosted the "Climate Change & Me" online series, and conducted a Universities Readiness Survey that gathered insights from over 300 respondents.

"The UCN 2025 Report is a powerful testament to what we can achieve when academia unites for a common cause," said Maya Haddad, Senior Sustainability Manager at Ajman University and UCN Head of Operations. "Ajman University is deeply committed to empowering youth, advancing climate research, and driving the systemic changes needed to achieve Net Zero. Being part of the leadership team of this dynamic network allows us to scale our impact from our campus to the entire region and beyond."

The report also highlights the expansion of the MENA Climate Solutions Research Network, an initiative supported by the Climate Champions Team, which has now grown to over 350 members across the region. Tackling eight thematic priorities—including energy, water, and finance—this network ensures that higher education institutions in the MENA region are actively contributing to the global "2030 Climate Solutions Implementation Roadmap."

Ajman University’s leadership in the UCN underscores its unwavering commitment to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative and the broader global sustainability agenda. By spearheading cross-institutional collaboration, AU is proving that universities are not just centers of learning, but vital catalysts for environmental stewardship and societal transformation.