Ahlia University Sustainability Report: SDG 13 – Climate Action

On-Campus Climate Initiatives

Ahlia University has implemented numerous on-campus initiatives over the past five academic years to reduce its carbon footprint and make the campus more climate-friendly. Carbon Footprint Measurement & Reduction: The university began formally tracking its greenhouse gas emissions using the GHG Protocol methodology, covering Scope 1 (direct fuel use), Scope 2 (purchased electricity), and Scope 3 (travel, waste, etc.) ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . Data from recent years show these efforts are yielding results: Ahlia’s total carbon footprint for 2022 was about 9,627.6 tons CO₂-equivalent, down over 20% from 2018–19 levels ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . Emissions decreased across all categories – for example, direct campus emissions (Scope 1) dropped by ~30% from 2021 to 2024 due to policies like reducing fuel use and adopting cleaner vehicles ahlia.edu.bh . Electricity-related emissions (Scope 2) declined ~17% as energy efficiency improved ahlia.edu.bh . These measurements guide Ahlia’s reduction strategies and demonstrate clear progress in cutting campus GHG emissions.

Energy Efficiency & Green Buildings: Ahlia University has focused on retrofitting and operating campus facilities to minimize energy use and emissions. All campus lighting has been upgraded to LED technology, significantly lowering electricity consumption ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . The university’s main campus, housed in the Gosi Complex, benefits from green building features: efficient water usage systems, automated lighting controls, and a large transparent roof that maximizes natural daylight ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . This design not only reduces the need for electric lighting but also provides passive solar heating in cooler months, cutting heating demand ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . To further reduce its footprint, Ahlia encourages recycling and paperless operations – transitioning administrative processes to digital platforms and enforcing a “rethink–reduce–reuse–recycle” policy for materials ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . These green building and operations practices lighten the infrastructure’s environmental impact while also serving as living examples of sustainability for students and staff.

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Sustainability is a core principle in Ahlia’s campus planning and infrastructure projects. The university’s Master Plan incorporates climate resilience and sustainable design standards for all new construction ahlia.edu.bh . Notably, the upcoming “Northern City” campus is being designed with sustainability in mind – emphasizing efficient use of natural light and ventilation, water conservation, and low-impact building materials ahlia.edu.bh . Ahlia’s adherence to comprehensive sustainable design standards in its project management ensures that new facilities are better adapted to Bahrain’s climate challenges (such as extreme heat and water scarcity) and have a minimal carbon footprint ahlia.edu.bh . By proactively integrating climate resiliency into campus growth, the university is safeguarding its infrastructure and community against future climate impacts.

Sustainable Transportation: Reducing transportation emissions is another priority on campus. Ahlia University encourages low-carbon commuting for students and staff through multiple measures. The campus provides bicycle parking facilities and showers, and indeed many exchange students and staff take advantage of cycling to commute ahlia.edu.bh . The university’s central location enables about 25% of staff to live within walking distance, reducing the need for car travel ahlia.edu.bh . Ahlia has also instituted policies to promote public transit and carpooling – faculty and staff receive transportation allowances that make using Bahrain’s public buses affordable, and class schedules are optimized to reduce peak-hour traffic and parking demand ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . For group travel and field trips, the university arranges shared shuttle buses instead of individual cars ahlia.edu.bh . Moreover, almost all vehicles in the university fleet or used by staff meet international low-emission standards, supporting cleaner air and fewer greenhouse gases ahlia.edu.bh . These initiatives in transportation not only cut emissions but also instill sustainable habits in the campus community.

Institutional Policies and Climate Action Plan

Ahlia University’s commitment to climate action is formalized through clear policies and strategic planning. The university has developed a comprehensive Climate Action Plan aligned with its Sustainable Development Plan (2021–2025) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13: Climate Action ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . This plan lays out Ahlia’s vision of becoming a regional leader in environmental stewardship and defines strategic objectives for mitigation and adaptation. Key objectives include: reducing campus greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing energy efficiency across facilities, promoting sustainable transportation, integrating climate and sustainability into the curriculum, and engaging the entire university community in climate action ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . For each objective the plan specifies action areas – for example, in Energy and Buildings, Ahlia commits to continue using LED lighting and automatic controls, to conduct regular energy audits, and to ensure new buildings (like the Northern City campus) are constructed with sustainability principles (maximizing natural light, ventilation, and insulation) ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . In Waste Management, the plan reinforces campus recycling programs and a push toward paperless operations via digital tools ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . Other sections address Water Conservation (installing water-saving devices and drought-resistant landscaping) ahlia.edu.bh , Transportation (infrastructure for cycling, incentives for carpooling/public transit) ahlia.edu.bh , Education & Research (expanding sustainability courses and supporting climate research through a dedicated research center) ahlia.edu.bh , and Community Engagement (empowering the student-led Sustainability Club, and organizing seminars/workshops on climate awareness) ahlia.edu.bh . This Climate Action Plan serves as a detailed roadmap for Ahlia to systematically reduce its environmental impact and bolster resilience ahlia.edu.bh .

In tandem, Ahlia has adopted institutional policies that underscore climate change mitigation and adaptation. The University Policy on Healthy Environment commits Ahlia to manage its activities in harmony with the natural environment and to “actively promote the restoration and preservation of a healthy environment for the future” ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . This policy drives the university to continually rethink resource use, curb wasteful habits, and offset any negative environmental impacts of its operations ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . For example, the policy mandates all units to follow the “rethink – reduce – reuse – recycle” principle in daily operations and specifically includes a Paper Use Policy to cut paper consumption (by using electronic communication, default double-sided printing, etc.) ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . Ahlia’s Sustainability Policy further enumerates concrete commitments such as using recycled/long-life materials in construction, reducing electricity use via timers and efficient appliances, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and using eco-friendly products (e.g. biodegradable cleaning agents) ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . Notably, the policy also pledges participation in global environmental events – Ahlia “participate[s] in the Annual Earth Day and encourage[s] students to attend sustainable activities” as a way to engage with broader climate action movements ahlia.edu.bh . Governance structures are in place to ensure these policies are enacted: Ahlia has established a Sustainability Committee or team to oversee the implementation of its Climate Action Plan and related policies, monitor progress against targets, and report annually to university leadership ahlia.edu.bh . This strong administrative framework and policy environment illustrate Ahlia University’s serious, long-term commitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation at the institutional level.

Climate Change Education and Curriculum Integration

Ahlia University recognizes that education is a powerful tool for climate action, and thus it has woven sustainability and climate change content throughout its curriculum. Curricular Integration: Climate change and sustainability topics are incorporated across various programs – from environmental science courses to business and engineering programs ahlia.edu.bh . Through targeted lectures, projects, and seminars embedded in coursework, students learn about the causes and impacts of climate change, renewable energy solutions, sustainable development strategies, and the importance of environmental stewardship ahlia.edu.bh . For instance, in the Bachelor’s in Interior Design program, courses like “Materials & Application in Design” focus on sustainable and eco-friendly materials, and “Building Systems & Interior Codes” emphasize green building practices and compliance with environmental standards ahlia.edu.bh . These classes equip future designers with knowledge of energy-efficient construction and climate-resilient design principles. Across other undergraduate programs, instructors incorporate case studies on climate issues and assign projects related to sustainability, ensuring that even students in fields like business or IT graduate with an awareness of climate challenges and solutions.

Beyond embedding modules in existing programs, Ahlia has also launched standalone academic programs dedicated to sustainability. Notably, the university offers a Master of Science in Sustainable Interior Design (MSID) and a Master of Science in Sustainable Management (MSSM) at the postgraduate level ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . The MSID program, for example, trains professionals in creating environmentally responsible interior environments – covering topics such as innovative green building materials, energy use and thermal comfort in buildings, and building performance assessment for energy efficiency ahlia.edu.bh . Likewise, the Sustainable Management master’s program prepares graduates to lead in corporate sustainability, climate policy, and sustainable business practices (aligning management decisions with climate action goals). The development of these degree programs underscores Ahlia’s commitment to producing graduates with specialized expertise in climate action and sustainability.

Ahlia’s approach to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) goes beyond individual courses – it is a holistic pedagogical strategy. The university emphasizes sustainability literacy, active citizenship, and ethical leadership as core graduate attributes ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . According to Ahlia’s sustainability-in-education framework, the learning environment is student-centered and interdisciplinary, with sustainability themes actively supported both in and out of the classroom ahlia.edu.bh . Students are encouraged to learn collaboratively and engage in critical thinking about real-life environmental challenges, becoming “responsible and informed advocates for a sustainable future” ahlia.edu.bh. The curriculum has been reviewed and aligned with UNESCO’s ESD competencies, integrating skills like adaptability, resilience, global citizenship, and systems thinking into course learning outcomes ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . To ensure these efforts are effective, Ahlia developed an assessment tool to evaluate sustainability literacy among students ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . This assessment, implemented across different faculties, measures students’ understanding of key sustainability concepts (climate change, resource conservation, social responsibility, etc.) and their awareness of sustainable practices in their field ahlia.edu.bh . Results are analyzed to identify gaps and improve teaching strategies, so that each graduating cohort is more sustainability-literate than the last ahlia.edu.bh . By systematically infusing climate and sustainability into curricula, launching dedicated programs, and monitoring outcomes, Ahlia University ensures that its educational mission is tightly aligned with SDG 13.

Public Engagement and Climate Awareness Outreach

Ahlia University extends its climate action efforts beyond the classroom and campus operations into the public sphere, leading and participating in outreach activities to raise climate change awareness. Student-Led Campaigns: Much of the energy comes from Ahlia’s students, who have formed environmental clubs and societies that champion green initiatives. These student groups regularly organize hands-on sustainability campaigns such as tree-planting drives, campus clean-up events, recycling competitions, and waste-reduction campaigns ahlia.edu.bh. For example, students have coordinated tree-planting activities on campus and in the local community, contributing to Bahrain’s broader tree-planting and greening efforts (which help absorb CO₂ and combat desertification). They also run “eco-workshops” to teach peers about topics like upcycling, composting, and energy-saving tips for home ahlia.edu.bh . Such activities engage hundreds of students each year in direct climate action and create a culture of environmental responsibility within the student body.

Seminars and Awareness Events: Ahlia frequently hosts public lectures, seminars, and awareness days focused on climate change and environmental sustainability. These events often feature faculty experts or external guest speakers (scientists, policymakers, NGO leaders) and are open to students, staff, and the wider community. One notable event was an “Environmental Awareness Day” on campus, which included exhibitions and talks highlighting climate change impacts and solutions (this was promoted through Ahlia’s social media to attract attendees) ahlia.edu.bh . In addition, the university has held seminars such as “Environmental Management and Sustainable Development” (led by faculty researchers) where topics like climate change mitigation and sustainable resource use were discussed ahlia.edu.bh . By hosting these educational events, Ahlia provides a forum for dialogue on climate issues in Bahraini society and helps improve public understanding of climate science, policy, and personal action. Many of these seminars are organized in partnership with government environmental agencies or local NGOs, reinforcing community ties.

Community and Youth Outreach: Aligning with its social responsibility, Ahlia University engages with the broader community – including schools, local organizations, and the general public – to promote climate awareness. Faculty and students have participated in national environmental campaigns initiated by the government, such as beach clean-ups and Earth Hour activities. The university encourages its students to volunteer in climate-related community service, for instance by joining local NGO campaigns on renewable energy promotion or disaster preparedness training . Furthermore, Ahlia takes part in global observances: each year the university community actively marks Earth Day, and in 2022 Ahlia ran a special awareness program on campus in conjunction with Earth Day’s theme of climate action ahlia.edu.bh . It also contributes to World Environment Day and similar UN-designated climate observances through social media campaigns and on-campus events that urge behavioral changes (like reducing plastic use or conserving water). By engaging the public and its own stakeholders in these outreach efforts, Ahlia University amplifies the message of SDG 13 and demonstrates leadership in building community resilience and awareness in the face of climate change.

Collaboration with Government, NGOs, and International Partners

Addressing climate change is a collective effort, and Ahlia University actively collaborates with governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and international partners on climate-related strategies and resilience-building initiatives. National Partnerships: The university aligns its climate action with Bahrain’s national climate strategies and works alongside government agencies to advance shared goals. Bahrain’s government – through its National Climate Action Plan (NCAP) – has set targets for emission reductions and adaptation under the Paris Agreement ahlia.edu.bh . Ahlia supports these national efforts; in fact, “the university’s commitment to climate action aligns with Bahrain’s national goals” , reinforcing policies on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and public awareness ahlia.edu.bh . Representatives from Ahlia have engaged with the Ministry of Environment and the Electricity and Water Authority on forums discussing renewable energy integration and energy-saving in public institutions, ensuring the university’s campus initiatives complement national programs. Moreover, Ahlia faculty contribute expertise to government-organized workshops on climate resilience – for example, offering research input on topics like flood risk management and water scarcity mitigation in Bahrain. This exchange of knowledge helps inform public policy and grounds Ahlia’s own climate plans in the broader national context.

The university also collaborates with local NGOs and environmental organizations on community projects. Ahlia has formal partnerships and MoUs with organizations like the Bahrain Environment Society and climate-focused youth groups. Through these partnerships, students and staff participate in community environmental drives and educational outreach. For instance, Ahlia’s Sustainability Club often partners with NGO-led campaigns (such as beach clean-ups or tree-planting in desertification-prone areas of Bahrain), providing volunteers and logistical support. These collaborations give students real-world experience in environmental citizenship and amplify the impact of small projects. As noted on the university’s SDG report, “Ahlia University collaborates with local environmental organizations and government agencies to support climate initiatives” , allowing its students and faculty to “engage in community projects, gain insights from climate experts, and participate in national and regional discussions on sustainability.” ahlia.edu.bh. This close cooperation with civil society strengthens local capacity for climate adaptation and spreads sustainable practices beyond the campus.

International and Regional Collaboration: Ahlia University extends its reach through global networks and partnerships that tackle climate change. It is a member of the United Nations SDG Partnership platform and has listed its commitments as the leading private university in Bahrain contributing to the SDGs ahlia.edu.bh . Through this platform, Ahlia shares its climate action progress and learns from best practices of other institutions worldwide. The university is also a signatory to the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) , voluntarily reporting its sustainability and climate achievements on an annual basis ahlia.edu.bh . These reports track actions like curriculum integration of SDGs (including climate topics) and campus carbon reductions, allowing international benchmarking and accountability. Participation in HESI and related UN initiatives positions Ahlia among a global community of universities working towards climate goals.

Regionally, Ahlia is an active participant in the SDGs Arab Universities Initiative , a forum under the World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD) that unites Arab-region universities on sustainability issues arabuniversities.org . Through this network, Ahlia engages in regional conferences and workshops focused on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development in the Middle East. For example, Ahlia faculty and students have attended seminars on climate resilience in the GCC region and contributed case studies on Bahrain’s climate challenges (such as extreme heat and sea-level rise) in Arab-wide forums. The university also partners with international academic institutions on climate-related projects: it has an ongoing collaboration with Brunel University London and a university in Saudi Arabia for an annual conference series on sustainable development and equal opportunities, where climate change and its socio-economic impacts are often discussed ahlia.edu.bh . Furthermore, Ahlia has embraced opportunities like international summer schools – one recent program (with the University of Bradford, UK) was themed “Activism to Actionism: Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Circular Economy Strategies,” allowing Ahlia students to study and devise climate solutions alongside global peers. Such partnerships enhance knowledge exchange on climate strategies, disaster risk planning, and resilience building, ensuring that Ahlia remains at the cutting edge of climate action discourse.

Research and Innovation in Climate Change Solutions

Research at Ahlia University is a cornerstone of its climate action efforts, spanning faculty projects, student theses, and scholarly publications focused on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and sustainability. The university explicitly encourages and supports research in climate-related areas. In fact, one of the goals in its sustainability plan is to “encourage academic faculty and students to publish research covering a wide range of sustainability aspects,” including climate science and policy ahlia.edu.bh . Faculty Research: Professors across disciplines are conducting research to address both global and local climate challenges. Ahlia’s faculty in engineering and science departments have ongoing projects on renewable energy technologies suited for Bahrain’s environment (such as solar panel efficiency under high heat and dust conditions), energy-efficient building design, and water resource management under climate stress. In business and finance, researchers have examined the intersection of climate change and economics – for example, studies on carbon emission disclosure and financial performance of companies ahlia.edu.bh , and on green finance as a mechanism to fund climate initiatives. Such work not only contributes to academic literature but also provides insights for industries and policymakers on incentivizing emissions reduction. In one notable research output, Ahlia economists analyzed the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and economic development in the GCC, shedding light on how Bahrain can decouple growth from carbon output ahlia.edu.bh . Additionally, Ahlia researchers have looked at climate risk assessments; for instance, an Ahlia study contributed to understanding climate vulnerability by referencing the Global Climate Risk Index and implications for South Asian countries scispace.com , reflecting the broad scope of the university’s climate scholarship.

Student Theses and Projects: Graduate students at Ahlia have produced impactful theses on climate action topics, often addressing practical challenges in the region. Recent Master’s theses have explored issues such as climate change impacts on electricity consumption patterns in the Middle East , optimal adaptation strategies for coastal flooding, and the effectiveness of Bahrain’s climate policies in reducing emissions . These research projects, some done in collaboration with international advisors, not only fulfill academic requirements but also generate data and recommendations that can assist national climate adaptation planning. The establishment of the Sustainable Research Centre at Ahlia provides an institutional hub for many of these efforts. Under themes like “Climate Action and Environmental Management,” the centre brings together faculty and students to develop strategies and policies for combating climate change and promoting environmental stewardship ahlia.edu.bh . For example, teams at the centre have studied local climate resilience – one project is assessing the climate readiness of Manama’s urban infrastructure (identifying vulnerabilities to extreme heat and proposing nature-based solutions to cool the city). Another interdisciplinary project involves computer science students developing an emissions-tracking app for campus, combining tech innovation with sustainability monitoring.

Ahlia’s research contributions are increasingly recognized. The integration of SDGs into academic work led to 217 published research studies (2020–2023) that provide recommendations supporting society and policy-making ahlia.edu.bh – a number of these publications directly address climate change mitigation or adaptation in Bahrain and beyond. Moreover, Ahlia regularly disseminates research findings through conferences and forums. The university has its own Ahlia Research Forum where climate-related studies are presented, and faculty frequently publish in international journals or present at conferences (including those under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change umbrella or the WASD). By prioritizing climate-related R&D, Ahlia University not only advances academic knowledge but also drives innovation in renewable energy, sustainability, and resilience – positioning itself as a knowledge leader on climate action in Bahrain.

Participation in Climate Initiatives and Leadership Role

Through its policies, education, outreach, partnerships, and research, Ahlia University demonstrates a leadership role in combating climate change, in line with SDG 13. The institution’s efforts have been acknowledged on national and international platforms. Ahlia is listed on the UN SDG Partnership Platform as a leading private higher education institution in Bahrain committed to the SDGs ahlia.edu.bh . It actively reports its progress on sustainability (including climate action metrics) to global initiatives like the UN Higher Education Sustainability Initiative, thereby holding itself accountable to the world community ahlia.edu.bh . These voluntary reports detail actions such as curriculum changes and carbon reductions, and they serve as evidence of Ahlia’s transparency and dedication to continuous improvement.

On the national stage, Ahlia University is viewed as a model for sustainable practices in the education sector. It aligns closely with Bahrain’s Vision 2030 and National Climate Action Plan goals, illustrating how an academic institution can contribute to the country’s international climate commitments. For instance, by cutting its own emissions and moving toward renewable energy on campus, Ahlia directly supports Bahrain’s pledge under the Paris Agreement to lower national carbon output ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . The university’s leadership frequently voices the importance of climate action in higher education forums. The founding President of Ahlia, Prof. Abdullah Al-Hawaj, has emphasized integrating multiple SDGs (including climate action) into the university’s curriculum and operations, a move which led to Ahlia being recognized as a UN partner in achieving sustainable development goals ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh . Such high-level advocacy underlines the institution’s commitment to not only follow but lead on climate initiatives.

Regionally, Ahlia’s participation in networks like SDGsArabUni (the Arab Universities SDG initiative) enables it to influence and inspire peer institutions in the Gulf and Middle East to ramp up their climate action efforts arabuniversities.org . By sharing best practices – for example, how Ahlia conducted a comprehensive carbon audit and achieved a >20% emission reduction in a few years – the university helps raise the bar for sustainability performance across the higher education sector. Ahlia’s students and faculty also serve as ambassadors of climate action; they contribute to international climate conferences (some have attended recent UN Climate Change Conferences as observers or panelists) and bring back insights to implement locally.

In summary, Ahlia University has embedded climate action into its campus operations, governance, academics, and community engagement. From reducing its own emissions and greening its campus, to educating future climate leaders and partnering on global initiatives, the university exemplifies the higher-education sector’s crucial role in addressing climate change. These sustained and evidence-based efforts illustrate Ahlia’s leadership in climate action and its ongoing commitment to SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts . By continuing on this path, Ahlia University not only supports Bahrain’s climate resilience but also empowers its graduates and partners to build a more sustainable, climate-secure future for all ahlia.edu.bh ahlia.edu.bh .