Green ambassadors blaze the nature trail

Switch off unnecessary lights and ACs, turn off unused taps, and recycle waste to reduce your carbon footprint — all this may sound like common sense but it may be cumbersome for others to do. Except perhaps for students of five schools in the UAE who have been doing it consistently for two years. On May 20, the Greenwood International School in Dubai, Al Halah School for Fundamental Education-Boys in Fujairah, Raffles International School, West Campus, in Dubai, Adhen School for Fundamental Education-Girls in Ras Al Khaimah, and Dubai International Academy in Dubai received the Green Flag Award for their environmental efforts and leadership. The Green Flag award is part of the Eco-Schools programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education, an international non-government organisation (NGO) that promotes sustainable development through environmental education. Fifty-two countries operate the Eco-Schools around the globe, making it the largest network of students and teachers. In the UAE, Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS-WWF) launched the Eco-Schools programme in 2010 through the HSBC Eco-Schools Climate Initiative. Currently, there are 30 Eco-Schools in the country. Reducing consumption "The honour of these five schools sets a milestone for education of sustainable development in the UAE," Rashmi De Roy, senior manager for education at the EWS-WWF, told Gulf News. "The Green Flag means that the students have taken up actions and studies which are relating to sustainability and they have managed to take steps as a whole school to reduce their consumption of energy, water, and waste generation," De Roy added. In two years, the five schools have reduced their average electricity consumption by about 5 per cent and water consumption by about 10 per cent. Their waste generation has reduced as well, with some schools producing no waste at all. Through the programme, students are being trained to become environmentally sensitive citizens in the future. "As an NGO, it is important for us to involve youngsters as ambassadors and active partners in environmental education. Dangers beyond what we can imagine could unfold if we fail as human beings and let climate change take over," Ida Tillisch, acting director general of EWS-WWF, said.