The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...
It employs a holistic, participatory approach in which students play an active role in running their school for the benefit of the environment. Eco-Schools certification is the Green Flag, an internationally acknowledged symbol for environmental excellence.
On October 18, 2010, EWS-WWF, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Education and HSBC, launched Eco-Schools in the UAE with the HSBC Eco-Schools Climate Initiative. Participating in the first year are 20 schools with about 15 000 students who will work on the Eco-School core themes of energy, water and waste. Collaborating with students will be HSBC staff volunteers.
Students will use the Eco-Schools process (this involves a range of stakeholders but students play the central role) to raise awareness of sustainable development issues and reduce their schools’ carbon emissions.
Working along with HSBC staff volunteers, students will form eco-committees, take up environmental audits to collect baseline data and make action plans. Linking environment with every subject in the curriculum, regular monitoring, and informing as well as involving the wider community will also be taken up.
As the academic year closes, there will be an eco-code (illustrated in posters) competition at the national and international levels.
Furthermore, schools across the 17 countries participating in the HSBC Eco-Schools Climate Initiative, can share practices and exchange ideas through the website. Finally, after one year (minimum) or two years (maximum) of the implementation of the Eco-Schools 7 steps, a school can apply for the Green Flag award.