Dubai: Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) has wrapped up its 16th Annual Inter College Environmental Public Speaking Competition in Arabic and English with a high level of competition from across the Middle East and North Africa region, said organisers.

As many as 56 teams and around 400 students, teachers, experts and visitors from across the GCC, Levant and North Africa region took part in the two-day event that ended on November 24 at Dubai Women’s College.

The competition was dedicated to sustainable issues.

The EEG has been advocating environmental conservation and protection of resources since its inception and endeavours to minimise the use of resources in its campaigns.

For example, EEG’s contribution to voluntary climate protection resulted in 85 per cent of EEG’s events in 2016 being carbon neutral and through this competition, EEG has offset 8.56 tonnes of CO2 in high-quality climate carbon offset projects.

EEG has pledged to move steadily towards that direction by making all their campaigns Carbon Neutral in 2017.

The two-day event took place at the Dubai Women’s College.

Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group, asked those at the competition to make sound decisions regarding their future and that of the planet, noting that “this regional university level competition serves as a forum for the expression of ideas and thoughts and provides the platform to the future generation to develop innovative approaches to address issues around sustainability.”

She also pointed out that “EEG realises the importance of moulding the youth, the future generations, to come to the realisation about the significance of environmental protection and turn that into uninhibited and strong actions.

“This event is a stepping stone for all the changes that you as individuals; as academics, will manifest,” she said.

Competition winners

Day 1 winners

Climate Change: Impact on Water Security! Winner: University of Bolton, Department of Civil Engineering — UAE

Alternative Energy Resources: A Viable Option? Winner: Modern College of Business & Science — Sultanate of Oman

Day 2 winners

Sustainable Development Goals: A New Course for Humanity! Winner: University of Nizwa — Sultanate of Oman

E-Waste: Where’s the Green? Winner: Fujairah Women’s College — UAE

Overall Winners

Overall Winners: University of Bolton — Department of Civil Engineering — UAE

Overall 1st Runner-up: Fujairah Women’s College — UAE

Overall 2nd Runner-up: Carnegie Mellon University — Qatar & University of Nizwa — Sultanate of Oman (TIE)