Abu Dhabi’s Sustainable Schools Win Top Global 7-Star Award

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi’s (EAD) flagship Sustainable Schools Initiative (SSI) has achieved 7-star recognition, the highest level of excellence, at the 11th International Best Practice Competition (IBPC) 2025. The event was organised by the Centre for Organisational Excellence Research in New Zealand.

With this achievement, SSI secured first place in the 4th Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Excellence Award, standing out as one of only 15 initiatives worldwide to receive the honour. The competition saw more than 110 submissions from three countries and 15 organisations.

Launched in 2009 in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and the Ministry of Education, SSI has grown into the UAE’s leading environmental education programme. The initiative encourages students to take practical steps toward sustainability in schools and communities through Green Audits, Eco Clubs, Outdoor Education, and Teacher Training programmes.

The initiative has already gained international recognition from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which recommended SSI as a global model for education for sustainable development. It is also part of the Greening Education Partnership with the Ministry of Education and UNESCO.

Today, SSI engages more than 562 schools across the UAE, making it the country’s most widespread environmental education programme.

In the last academic year alone, 20,287 students participated in Green Audits, while 7,494 students joined Eco Clubs, leading to 1,018 environmental projects and initiatives. Additionally, 70,592 students took part in Outdoor Education activities, connecting directly with nature. Teacher development remains a core focus, with 4,709 teachers trained under the programme.

Between 2022 and 2024, participating schools reported recycling an average of 2,442 litres of water per capita. Waste reduction efforts resulted in the recycling of 241,435 kilograms of waste, while 71,864 school members adopted energy-saving practices.

IBPC judges praised SSI for its digital innovation, including the launch of an online system that allows schools to self-assess and track performance annually. The initiative also introduced the e-Green e-learning platform, making teacher training accessible across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, while reducing travel-related carbon emissions.

Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of the Environment Information Science and Outreach Management Sector at EAD, said the award confirms Abu Dhabi’s leadership in sustainability education. He noted that SSI is shaping a generation of students who value environmental responsibility, innovation and long-term sustainability.

With this latest recognition, EAD plans to further expand SSI’s reach, strengthen its digital tools, and continue sharing its successful model globally to support sustainability education for future generations.