Countries, governments, corporations and nonprofits around the globe are working to reduce green-house gas emissions and fight against climate change.

But on a smaller scale, what can be done?

Students at Al Dhafra Private Schools-Abu Dhabi are taking their climate action goals to the bank — First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), to be precise.

FAB, in partnership with Emirates Foundation, recently held its Climate Action competition, challenging schools in the Emirate to act against climate change and offered a cash prize to put those plans to work.

The competition, made up of two themes and consequently two winners, offered AED 200,000 in prize money to each of the winning teams to bring their plans to fruition.

After passing the first round of the competition that included approximately 700 schools, the Al Dhafra Schools-Abu Dhabi’s high school students were shortlisted along with four others to present their full strategy, says Nosheen Riaz, the school’s head of sustainability.

CAPTION: Climate Action Event

The team, made up of grades 11 and 12 students, put together a comprehensive project and business plan that includes solar panels; kinetic energy generation via stationary bikes; a greywater-recycling system for garden irrigation and restroom flushing; a custom-built interactive app tracking impact and setting sustainability challenges; and sustainability education through gamification.

The team will also focus on involving parents with events such as uniform swaps and awareness activities.

“Putting together the proposal and business plan really pushed us to think like real-world problem-solvers. It wasn’t just about having a good idea — it was about learning how to communicate it, back it up with research, and present it professionally. It taught us the importance of planning, teamwork and staying committed to a vision we believe in,” said team member Laura Gutierrez.

The team aims to implement the project in full within 10 months.

“Knowing that we now have the financial support to bring our idea to life is empowering,” says Roy Jean Kattar, another team member. “It means our efforts can actually lead to real change. We’re not just talking about sustainability — we’re doing something about it, and that’s an incredible feeling.”

See the winning announcement here: Al Dhafra Private Schools-Abu Dhabi winners

The winning team for the other category, Climate Conscious Children, went to Al Nahda National School for Boys for their Eco-Posts Mobile App.

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