Within the framework of this partnership, the two parties will cooperate to implement an interactive curriculum project accessible to all students of universities, colleges and higher institutes in the Arab world in order to have direct access, based on the principle of open source, various educational programs, awareness and training materials on the causes of climate change, and mechanisms to create qualitative solutions to address it and advance the sustainability goals set by the United Nations and the Paris Agreement signed in 2015 and the COP26 climate summit in the UK in 2021.
The partnership was announced at the Expo 2020 Dubai Youth Pavilion in the presence of Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Vice President of the Arab Youth Center, and signed by Saeed Al Nazari, Managing Director of the Federal Youth Authority and Chief Strategy Officer of the Arab Youth Center, and Abdul Fattah Sharaf, CEO, HSBC UAE and Head of International, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited.
Shamma Al Mazrui said that the Arab region’s hosting of two successive global climate summits, COP27 in Egypt this year and COP28 in the United Arab Emirates in 2023, requires the preparation of young Arab leaders skilled in various fields of climate action.
She added: “In October 2021, the UAE announced its national strategy to reach Net Zero by 2050, like many countries in the region. Therefore, cooperating with regional and international institutions and entering into strategic partnerships with those who wish to support youth work in the public and private sectors through effective and targeted initiatives that accelerate climate action and engage young people. young people in the development of its mechanisms and solutions are the best way to achieve these ambitious objectives of protecting the future of the planet, its environment and its biodiversity.
Al Nazari said: “The Education for Sustainability project – which will build the capacity of young Arabs in climate action through a cooperation agreement with HSBC and the Posterity Institute – is a model for education programs and environmental training. The program will equip young Arab university talent, from a variety of academic backgrounds, with the skills to promote climate action, so that the Arab region can become an active supporter of global efforts.
Sharaf said: “HSBC has a long-standing commitment to supporting the communities in which we operate. Developing future skills is an important part of our community outreach and our partnership with the Arab Youth Council on this new sustainability education initiative for undergraduate students in the region reflects this.
Dr Yasar Jarrar, CEO of the Posterity Institute, said, “Sustainability education is key to tackling climate change and unemployment threats in our region. This type of partnership with HSBC is an excellent example of how the private sector can have a positive impact on the global sustainable development agenda.
