MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
More than 2,000 delegates and 30 exhibitors are participating in the 12th edition of the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC) held in Abu Dhabi, according to the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).
The WEEC kicked off in Abu Dhabi on Monday featuring a wide range of plenaries on environmental and sustainability education with global industry and thought leaders from the UAE and around the world, under the theme “Connecting People, Creating Tomorrow”.
The WEEC, which is taking place for the first time in the Middle East, is organised by the World Environmental Congress Network and the EAD, said Fayeza Yahya Alseiari, Section Head – Businesses and Organisations, Environmental Information, Science and Outreach Management at the EAD. In an interview with Aletihad on Tuesday, Alseiari revealed that more than 200 main and parallel sessions are taking place throughout the WEEC, which lasts until February 2.
She noted that speakers will share knowledge and best practices related to a wide range of topics such as environmental education, climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, water, and waste management practices.
“The WEEC is an international congress, which gives a platform for global citizens to discuss, learn and share knowledge on educational programs surrounding the environment and sustainable development,” she added.
The WEEC also features the Youth Environmental Education Conference (YEEC), which serves as a platform to empower the voices of youth, who will share their input about the best practices in environmental education and network with other youth from around the world, according to Alseiari, who noted that youth will be involved in developing different environmental programmes.
She added that the event will include over 20 sessions delivered by youth in addition to more than 200 WEEC sessions with 230 international speakers.
The EAD spokesperson further stressed that WEEC “aligns perfectly” with the UAE strategy and the vision of EAD when it comes to environmental education and sustainable development.
“Today’s youth are the future leaders, and they play a crucial role in promoting environmental sustainability; it’s very important to cultivate their awareness of current environmental challenges and ways to overcome them through education,” she said, noting that the EAD’s vision involves developing a roadmap for environmental education to ensure sustainable development.