UNITAR Online Catalogue
CIFAL London - Sun, Sand & Solutions: Clean Energy and Nature in the Gulf
People
GBS Dubai
Background
The webinar “Sun, Sand & Solutions: Clean Energy and Nature in the Gulf” is a joint initiative delivered by CIFAL London in collaboration with GBS Dubai. It is designed as an introductory, interactive learning session engaging higher secondary school students in key sustainability topics related to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
The webinar responds to the growing need to raise awareness among youth on the interlinkages between clean energy transition and ecosystem protection, particularly in the Gulf context, where rapid urban development, high energy demand, and sensitive desert ecosystems intersect.
Building on GBS Dubai’s engagement with secondary school students, the session provides a structured platform to explore real-world sustainability challenges through contextualised examples, while encouraging participants to reflect on practical actions at the individual and community levels.
CIFAL London’s role focuses on the delivery of the learning component, ensuring alignment with SDG-oriented capacity-building approaches and supporting knowledge transfer through an interactive and participatory format.
Event Objectives
The webinar aims to:
• Introduce participants to the interconnections between clean energy (SDG 7) and ecosystem protection (SDG 15) in the Gulf context;
• Raise awareness of sustainability challenges related to urban development, energy use, and biodiversity;
• Provide practical insights into how individual and community actions can contribute to environmental sustainability;
• Encourage student engagement through discussion, reflection, and application of concepts to local contexts;
• Support early-stage sustainability education through accessible, real-world examples.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:
• Describe the relationship between clean energy systems and ecosystem protection in arid environments;
• Identify key environmental challenges related to energy use and urbanisation in the Gulf region;
• Explain how renewable energy solutions, such as solar power, can support sustainable development;
• Recognise practical actions that contribute to reducing environmental impact at individual and community levels;
• Engage in discussion and reflect on sustainability challenges within their local context.
Content and Structure
The webinar “Sun, Sand & Solutions: Clean Energy and Nature in the Gulf” is structured as a 1-hour interactive learning session combining expert input with participant engagement.
The session is organised into three thematic segments:
- Integrated Sustainability Challenges and Solutions (Core Input)
• Clean Energy in Dubai: balancing solar energy expansion with ecosystem protection
• From Sun to Sustainability: the role of solar energy in reducing environmental impact
• Urban Growth vs Nature: managing urbanisation, energy demand, and land use sustainably
This segment introduces key concepts related to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), highlighting interlinkages between energy systems and biodiversity in the Gulf context.
- Individual and Community Action (Applied Learning)
• What Can You Do in Dubai? Small actions for environmental impact
Participants explore practical behavioural changes related to energy consumption, waste reduction, and environmental stewardship.
- Interactive Discussion and Reflection (Engagement and Consolidation)
• Life in the Desert: climate, biodiversity, and the impact of human activity
This segment is delivered through guided discussion and Q&A, encouraging participants to reflect on local environmental challenges and apply knowledge gained during the session.
Methodology
• Presentation of contextualised case studies (Dubai/Gulf region)
• Thematic lecture combined with visual materials
• Interactive discussion and live Q&A
• Participant reflection on local actions and solutions.
Targeted Audience
Higher secondary school students (Grades 11–12) from participating schools in the UAE.
Additional Information
• The webinar is designed as a short-format, interactive learning session combining expert input with participant engagement.
• Participation is open to secondary school students engaged through GBS Dubai partner schools.
• A post-event feedback questionnaire will be administered in line with CIFAL quality assurance practices to assess participant satisfaction and learning outcomes.
• The session contributes to ongoing awareness-raising and capacity-building efforts related to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).