Sustainable AASTMT

Net-Zero Commitment

Race to Zero – AASTMT commitment

The Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) is proud to be an active participant in the Race to Zero Campaign, a global initiative led by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This campaign mobilizes a coalition of non-state actors—including businesses, cities, regions, financial institutions, and academic institutions—in the shared mission to achieve a healthy, resilient, zero-carbon world.

Race to Zero is the largest global alliance of non-state actors committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest, in alignment with the Paris Agreement and the IPCC’s recommendation to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

AASTMT’s Commitment to Climate Action

AASTMT has made a public and strategic commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, formally joining the Race to Zero Campaign. This bold step reflects our institutional dedication to mitigating climate change through leadership, education, and sustainable development.

1. Pledge

AASTMT has pledged at the highest level of leadership to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century or sooner. This pledge supports global climate action and aligns with international efforts to cap temperature rise at 1.5°C (United Nations, 2015; IPCC, 2018).

2. Plan

Within 12 months of joining the initiative, AASTMT is committed to publishing a clear, transparent, and actionable climate strategy. This plan includes:

• Short-, medium-, and long-term goals
• An interim target for 2030 to reflect AASTMT’s fair contribution toward halving global CO₂ emissions (IPCC, 2018)
• Focus areas such as energy systems, transportation, water use, and curriculum integration (UNFCCC, 2020)

3. Proceed

Implementation of tangible actions has already begun. Through the AASTMT Climate Action Plan 2023–2024, the university is:

• Improving energy efficiency across facilities (International Energy Agency, 2020)
• Promoting the adoption of renewable energy, with targets to meet 25% of energy demand from renewables by 2025, and 40% by 2040 (UNFCCC, 2020)
• Deploying solar energy systems and smart energy management tools (IEA, 2021)
• Advancing sustainable mobility policies across campuses (UN Environment Programme, 2020)
• Embedding climate literacy and sustainability education in academic programs (UNESCO, 2018)

4. Publish

AASTMT is committed to publishing progress updates annually, ensuring transparency through participation in recognized reporting platforms, including the UNFCCC Global Climate Action Portal (UNFCCC, 2020).

Driving Sustainability through Strategy and Innovation

This initiative builds on AASTMT’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, as embedded in its Strategic Plan 2021–2026, which identifies sustainability as one of its four core strategic pillars (AASTMT Strategic Plan, 2021). The university’s alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is reflected across its operations, education, research, and community engagement.

Leading the Region in Net-Zero Ambition

Through rigorous climate action, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative research, AASTMT is emerging as a regional pioneer in climate leadership. Our efforts inspire universities and communities in the MENA region and beyond to join the global movement for a zero-carbon, sustainable future.