UAEU Hosts First International Conference on Climate Action

In the presence of Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), the university hosted the first International Conference on Climate Action and Sustainability (ICCAS 2025). The event ran from 7th to 10th October 2025 at the UAEU campus in Al Ain, bringing together experts, researchers, policymakers, and students from across the globe.

Global Participation and Knowledge Sharing

More than 200 delegates participated in the four-day conference to exchange insights, present research, and develop practical solutions to urgent climate and sustainability challenges. The conference served as a platform for dialogue across disciplines, nations, and generations, emphasizing collaboration to address environmental issues and promote sustainable development.

UAE’s Commitment to Sustainability

In his inaugural address, Zaki Nusseibeh reaffirmed the UAE’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, inspired by the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He highlighted the importance of treating the environment as a trust to be preserved rather than a resource to be exploited. The Chancellor stressed that the conference aims to unite science, policy, and society to envision bold and actionable solutions.

Conference Agenda and Themes

ICCAS 2025 featured research presentations, poster sessions, panel discussions, and keynote talks. Key themes included clean and affordable energy, batteries and fuel cells, CO₂ capture and utilisation, additive manufacturing, advanced composites, sustainable catalysts, and electrocatalysts. The agenda also covered aerospace, robotics, artificial intelligence for sustainability, the energy-water-food nexus, green building innovations, circular economy, education, and policy.

Encouraging Student and Academic Engagement

The event placed strong emphasis on student participation, offering free registration for selected abstracts and opportunities to publish research in peer-reviewed journals. Eight high-quality scientific journals collaborated with ICCAS 2025 to produce special issues from selected conference papers, demonstrating the event’s significance and academic quality.

Industry and Institutional Support

ICCAS 2025 was supported by national and international companies, including The Nanocompany UAE and Infitek China, showing strong engagement from the scientific and industrial communities. The event also benefited from the active participation of academics, government bodies, environmental consultants, NGOs, and industry professionals.

Driving Sustainable Innovation

As a pioneering platform for low-carbon solutions and sustainability, ICCAS 2025 showcased the latest research and technological innovations while encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing. The conference highlighted the UAE’s leadership in climate-focused dialogue and emphasized the country’s role in promoting a sustainable future regionally and globally.

The Chancellor encouraged UAEU and conference organisers to continue promoting ICCAS as a flagship event, suggesting it could be held periodically. This reflects the university’s commitment to fostering sustainability, environmental stewardship, and innovation for the next generation of researchers and policymakers.