Fifty Abu Dhabi schools go green

Abu Dhabi: Fifty schools will work towards reducing their ecological footprint under an initiative designed by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD).

The Al Madaris Al Mustadama initiative, which means sustainable schools, will help schools in the emirate carry out "green audits" and take effective steps to reduce their ecological footprint.

"Abu Dhabi is developing fast and this is impacting our environment. An environmentally aware society is an expected outcome that we share with the Abu Dhabi Executive Council," Majid Al Mansouri, secretary general of EAD. said.

"We all want our future generation to become environmentally responsible citizens of the world."

"The initiative, which spans five years, will help translate awareness into action unlike any other programme that we've implemented before," Gayatri Raghwa, environment education specialist at EAD, said.

"The participating schools will carry out a comprehensive green audit which will help gather information about the impact of the school on the environment. This is done by measuring several parameters, including the amount of electricity and water used and stationary requirements of the school. Accordingly, targets will be set for the school to achieve within a specified time frame," Raghwa explained.

As part of the initiative, the schools will have to train their teachers to be able to impart environmental education to their pupils.