Past Events - Livable Planet NYU Abu Dhabi

Road to Decarbonization: From COP28 Forward – Navigating Climate Promise

May 6, 2024

This conversation focuses on pivotal aspects of climate action and energy sustainability, particularly the impact of COP28 on decarbonization efforts and the fossil fuel phase-out.

The Higher Education Climate Dialogues (HECD)

May 4, 2024

Join the 5th Edition of the Higher Education Climate Dialogues (HECD) co-organized by NYUAD and AUS. This year's conference places a significant emphasis on climate resilience, aiming to sustain the legacy of COP28. Explore a day of enlightening panel discussions with experts from various fields, engaging workshops, and exclusive networking opportunities.

Voices of Sustainability: Pioneering Solutions for Earth’s Future

April 18, 2024

This talk elaborates on the pivotal role of energy as the golden thread connecting various developmental priorities as well as how a pioneering nature-based solution can simultaneously mitigate climate change.

The Scary but Still Fixable Threat of Climate Change

February 21, 2024

Confronting Environmental Change in Asia: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

February 19, 2024 - February 20, 2024

(AT NYUAD) American Chemical Society for the Middle East and Africa Regional Conference

February 4, 2024

Bringing together scientists and chemistry professionals from the region and around the globe to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge, promote collaborative work, and advance the academic research and education in the UAE.

ECO Materials: Emerging Construction Materials — Towards Sustainable and Resilient Cities

February 1, 2024 - February 2, 2024

This conference explores these emerging low-carbon cementitious materials, their opportunities, challenges, and the way forward to their implementation to help build more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and resilient cities and infrastructure.

Stern at NYUAD Presents: Rethinking Cities and Real Estate Investment with NYU Stern Professor Sam Chandan

January 31, 2024

Join Stern at NYUAD for a conversation with NYU Stern Professor Sam Chandan as he introduces some of the key issues that every real estate investor should consider when deploying capital at home or abroad in today's smarter, faster, hotter, and more unpredictable world.

(At NYUAD) IDEAS 2024: The International Conference on Desalination, Environment And Sustainability

January 22, 2024

This forum is dedicated to recent developments in membrane desalination, water treatment and re-use, environmental sustainability and related technologies.

(At COP28) Preparing the Workforce for a Climate Resilient Future: The UAE NAP Development and the Skills Mapping Nexus

December 12, 2023

The primary objective of this event is premised on the UAE National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Development and the actions toward a comprehensive and inclusive strategy that facilitates a just transition, youth engagement, and integration of labor and education into UAE’s national efforts to adapt to climate change.

(At COP28) Climate Changers: Transforming the Climate Narrative Through Inclusive Youth Voices

December 12, 2023

This session will explore how inclusive youth voices are transforming the climate narrative, advocating for equitable solutions, and shaping a more sustainable future for all.

(At COP28) The UAE Climate Change Research Network Panel

December 11, 2023

Dr. Fatin Samara (American University of Sharjah, AUS College of Arts and Sciences) will lead an engaging discussion on "The Role of Scientific Research and Research Networks in Climate Change Collaborations and Youth Education."

(At COP28) Innovate to Nourish: Finance and Technology for Food Security

December 10, 2023

The Transition Investment Workshop brings together top-tier financial institutions, specialized asset managers, researchers, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and best practices on unlocking large-scale investments in socially impactful projects in emerging and lower-income countries.

(At COP28) Youth Climate Champion (YCC): Meet the Mentors

December 10, 2023

A panel of high-level mentors are invited to share their career journey insights and interactively engage with youth delegates.

(At COP28) Universities Climate Network (UCN) Panel

December 10, 2023

The UCN Co-chairs will be joined by UCN members from University of Ajman and University of Birmingham to discuss the foundational journey and legacy plans for the UAE-based network.

(At COP28) Youth Agency & Empowerment for Climate Action

December 9, 2023

This session will seek to increase awareness of the importance of public-private partnerships to engage educators, students and communities and empower young people with the skills and tools necessary to train the next generation of climate-responsible leaders.

(At COP28) From Local to Global: Extreme Environments as a Proxy for the Future

December 9, 2023

This panel delves into the pioneering work of the Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS) in its efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Panelists will discuss ongoing studies of the marine and atmospheric environment of the region, with a special emphasis on the UAE.

(At COP28) Youth Climate Champion (YCC): Meet the Mentors

December 9, 2023

A panel of high-level mentors are invited to share their career journey insights and interactively engage with youth delegates.

(At COP28) Arabic Roots: Sustainability in the Desert

December 9, 2023

A workshop that merges traditional Emirati practices with modern sustainability efforts. This session will use storytelling and interactive activities to explore the harmony between Arabic culture and environmental stewardship.

(At COP28) Arts, Culture, and Media in the Global Justice Climate

December 9, 2023

This platform aims to shed light on the pivotal work carried out by the IMFC endowment and the IMFC Fund in support of indigenous, migrant, and frontline communities.

(At COP28) Events: Youth, Children, Education, and Skills

December 8, 2023

Theme day at COP28 featuring NYUAD and UCN.

(At COP28: By Invite Only Event) Universities Climate Network (UCN): Legacy in Practice

December 8, 2023

This all-day forum aims to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing around the key pillars of thought leadership, action, and legacy within the UCN network. Speakers include Haya Aseer (Arab Youth Center), Saeed Al Abbar (AESG), Ayla Bajwa (DP World FZE), and Tatiana Antonelli (Goumbook).

(At COP28) Disability Rights and the Climate Crisis: Inclusive Decision-Making, Climate Disasters, and Impacts on the Rights of People with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses

December 8, 2023

Join us at the COP28 World Health Organization (WHO) Health Pavilion in the Blue Zone for this event on the intersection of disability rights and the climate crisis. This event will bring together experts, activists, and community members to share their perspectives, experiences, and policymaking approaches.

(At COP28: By Invite Only Event) Global Higher Education Networking Night

December 8, 2023

This event will distinguish itself from others at COP28 by providing a milestone moment for key actors in academia to connect in a networking – rather than conference-style setting.

(At COP28) How Art Can Inspire Climate Action

December 8, 2023

This event will bring together artistic and cultural curators with international and regional artists for a conversation to greater leverage the arts for climate action.

(At COP28) Inclusive Engineering Solutions Paving the Road to Net Zero

December 8, 2023

Understanding the technological tipping points to accelerate the deployment of innovative technology & engineering solutions to reach net zero,

(At COP28) Youth Solutions Showcase

December 8, 2023

Showcasing the innovative youth solutions that were created towards Reimagining the Future of Energy.

France Muséums Talk 1: How to rewire the arts and culture fields to address climate change

December 7, 2023

In alignment with COP28, Louvre Abu Dhabi brings to you “Sustainability in Museums.”

(Invite Only) NYU Alumni in Abu Dhabi: COP28 Alumni Gathering

December 7, 2023

NYU Abu Dhabi Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann, NYU, and NYUAD alumni will gather for a private reception in Dubai on the occasion of COP28.

Angel Rising Investor Education Symposium

December 6, 2023 - December 7, 2023

In line with the COP28 and UAE’s ambitions to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, this year's symposium will delve into ‘ClimateTech – Catalyzing Investors as Agents for Change’.

(At NYUAD) Climate Risk Management for Business Leaders: A Conversation with NYU Stern Professor Johannes Stroebel

December 6, 2023

Join Stern at NYUAD for a conversation with NYU Stern Professor Johannes Stroebel as he provides an introduction to the various types of climate risks to businesses as well as approaches to managing these risks.

(At COP28) Climate Equity and Inclusion Solutions For Education, Resilience, and Empowerment: Climate Knowledge For All

December 6, 2023

This interactive session, featuring Abu Dhabi, New York, and London-based experts, offers a collaborative forum—inviting attendees to share experiences or bring climate education proposals for feedback.

(At COP28) Climate Investment and Finance: Challenges and Opportunities, Lessons Learned from the EU, the Golf Cooperation Council Region and the World

December 6, 2023

The talk aims to facilitate high-level dialogue between the EU and GCC on climate investment and finance, discussing possible opportunities, challenges, and cooperation.

(At COP28) Angel Rising Roundtable with UICCA

December 6, 2023

The discussion will explore local case studies with innovators showcasing how their cutting-edge technologies address pressing climate issues. Capacity of 15-16 guests for the round table only.

(At NYUAD) Climate Law and Net Zero: Challenges and Opportunities

December 6, 2023

Addressing the urgency of climate change and the foundational role of international agreements like the Paris Agreement of 2015, countries are urged to adopt concrete domestic measures.

(AT COP28) Youth Climate Champion (YCC): Meet the Mentors

December 6, 2023

A panel of high-level mentors are invited to share their career journey insights and interactively engage with youth delegates.

(At NYUAD: Internal Event) Climate Law: Challenges and Achievements

December 5, 2023

A focused workshop on recent developments in the area of climate law, covering both international, national and local law, providing global and comparative coverage, covering developments in Europe, the US and key jurisdictions in the Global South.

(At NYUAD: Internal Event) Understanding Environmental Equity – Causes, Impacts, and Ways Forward

December 5, 2023

A discussion on environmental equity, and how we can engage in environmental equity on a personal, institutional, and global level, spanning from human rights to urbanization and higher education.

(At COP28) Redefining the Future of Work: Implementing Green Skills and Jobs in the Global Workforce

December 5, 2023

This panel will focus on available resources for current employees and students to begin exploring the effects of climate change on the job market, what green jobs and skills need to be created to effectively engage the future of work.

(At COP28) Higher Education’s Path to Net Zero: Navigating GHG Emissions Measurement Opportunities and Challenges

December 5, 2023

This dynamic roundtable discusses the pressing challenges faced by HEIs in the UAE and worldwide as they strive to reduce their carbon footprint.

(At COP28) The Ocean’s Past Shapes Our Future: Cultural Heritage in Climate Change

December 5, 2023

Underwater cultural heritage, a repository of human history, unveils the story of climate change's impact on civilization. As sea levels were significantly lower in the past, coastal regions, now submerged, witnessed the evolution of humanity.

(At COP28) Empowering Academia: Integrating Sustainability into Higher Education

December 5, 2023

Dynamic panel discussions and interactive session designed to inspire and equip university students, professors, teachers, and academia professionals with the knowledge and tools to integrate sustainability into higher education.

(AT COP28) Solar Garden Workshop Training

December 5, 2023

The workshop's central theme is environmental responsibility, encouraging participants to consider the impact of their energy choices on the planet. To reinforce this concept, the session will provide interactive experiments and projects, exploring the practical implications of sustainable energy solutions.

(AT COP28) Mubadala ACCESS Center Signing and Logo Reveal event

December 5, 2023

Celebrate and establish the partnership between NYUAD and Mubadala with the unveiling of the Mubadala ACCESS Center and logo at their COP28 venue.

(At NYUAD) Climate Positive Growth: Africa as a Climate Action Partner for the UAE and for the World

December 5, 2023

An esteemed Professor of Law and the Immediate Past Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Yemi Osinbajo is currently in UAE engaging in COP28 UNESCO Greening Education Pavilion, in collaboration with Dean Amkpa.

(At NYUAD) The Gulf Environment and Beyond: Global Change, Regional Impacts and Solutions

December 4, 2023

Climate adaptation is a necessary reality for countries and cities around the globe. To identify pathways for adaptation, it is essential for climate change to be understood at the regional and sub-regional scales, as it is only with this data that municipalities and other regional actors may prepare.

(At COP28) Youth Climate Champion (YCC): Meet the Mentors

December 4, 2023

Meet the Mentors will bridge tangible connections between youth and professionals through intergenerational dialogue and resonant voices of action, solutions and hope.

(At COP28) Greening Education through Clean Energy Innovation to Implement Climate Justice

December 4, 2023

This event will explore how clean energy innovation can promote climate justice by addressing loss and damage impacts.

(At COP28) Commitment to Young Emirati Minds

December 4, 2023

The climate crisis is a global one, embedded in our economies, systems, and societies, and it is through our shared dialogue and innovation that we can strive to promote strategic solutions for a collective and sustainable future.

(At COP28: By Invite Only Event) Global Tolerance Alliance at COP28: Connected in our Common Humanity

December 3, 2023

An invite-only discussion on being connected in our common humanity. The talk is hosted by the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence.

(At COP28) Diplomacy, Climate Action, and Peace

December 3, 2023

Join the student-led Climate Diplomacy Series launch at COP28 for insights on the nexus of climate change, peace, and security.

(At COP28) Student Energy Summit 2023

December 1, 2023

Student Energy is a global youth-led organization empowering the next generation of leaders who are accelerating the transition to a sustainable, equitable energy future.

(At COP28) Disability Rights and the Climate Crisis: Climate Disasters, Extreme Weather Events, and Humanitarian Response

December 1, 2023

This event will focus on the impacts that people with disabilities and medical conditions experience when facing climate change and extreme weather events, and the role of humanitarian response actors to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are protected.

(At NYUAD) Our Island – Small Island Big Song

November 29, 2023

Discover the shared and distinct musical collaborations of islander songkeepers from the Pacific and Indian Ocean as they voice concerns of a changing ocean.

(Online) Climate Call Hackathon

November 29, 2023

Climate Call is a new problem-solving platform for climate change, backed by the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA).

(At NYUAD) Student Energy Summit 2023: Reimagining the Future

November 28, 2023

Under the theme Reimagining the Future, hundreds of students will gather in Abu Dhabi to participate in creating a sustainable outlook for the energy transition by connecting the youth of today to leaders of the energy sector to educate the leaders of tomorrow.

(At NYUAD) Five decades in the Amazon: destruction, reconstruction, resistance

November 28, 2023

Public talk by Brazilian filmmaker Jorge Bodanzky. Over five decades of periodic visits to the Amazon region, the Brazilian filmmaker has seen that its problems only get worse, whichever governments are in power. From forest burning, deforestation, land grabbing, slave labor, child prostitution, and illegal mining, with the consequent contamination of rivers and tributaries., find out what motivates him to continue his work as a documentary filmmaker.

(At NYUAD) Amazon, the New Minamata?

November 27, 2023

Film by Brazilian filmmaker Jorge Bodanzky, followed by discussion with the director. Doctors and researchers answer the urgent call of the indigenous people of the Amazon River basin, the Munduruku, and investigate how corporate mercury contamination is affecting indigenous tribes, riverside inhabitants, and even urban populations throughout the Amazon.

(At NYUAD) Climate Action and Health

November 27, 2023

This conference brings together climate health benefits researchers, along with policy analysts and government representatives, in order to share what we know about health beneficial mitigation measures, and the practical ways by which they can be implemented into governmental and societal action.

(Online) NYUAD Water Research Center Students to Host Climate Call Hackathon

November 27, 2023

Climate Call is a new problem-solving platform for climate change, backed by the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA).

(At COP28) 18th UN Conference of Youth (COY 18)

November 26, 2023

NYU Abu Dhabi students from the youth climate think tank Greenhouse will be leading global youth discussions during COP28 as co-hosts of the Conference of Youth.

On Water: A Natural Perspective!

November 22, 2023

In this talk, the speaker will trace humanity's bond with water, from historical ties to future implications. Despite water's perceived abundance, most is inaccessible in oceans.

Net zero campuses with IWFM UAE Region

November 22, 2023

Join the IWFM UAE Region for an informative presentation on the role of net zero campuses and the built environment in enabling green economies, shaping societies and the environment.

This World Made Itself | Infinitely Yours – Miwa Matreyek

November 16, 2023

Performance meets animation at the intersection of cinematic and theatrical, fantastical and tangible, and illusionistic and physical in evocative explorations of the earth and the environment.

4th National Dialogue for Food Security

November 16, 2023

The event brings together stakeholders and experts to share challenges, ideas, solutions, and success stories creating a movement towards reducing food waste.

Art, Activism and Food; performance practice and food politics | Ikwe na odu

November 9, 2023 - November 12, 2023

Through a series of performative provocations, the NYUAD theater program’s fall production speaks to food politics in relation to the impact on the environment, economics, and identity.

(Internal Event) Empowering University Communities for Sustainability, Gender Equity, and Climate Action Workshop

November 9, 2023

An intersection of academic research and industrial insights, shedding light on the crucial role of gender perspectives in sustainability planning.

Salted Edges: #islandparadise

November 9, 2023 - November 26, 2023

Salted Edges is a departure point for investigating the current climate crisis to understand the vulnerability of our planet.

Source of Life: Water Management in the Premodern Middle East

November 6, 2023

In the challenging climatic conditions of the Middle East, providing clean water has always been a significant concern. The discussion focuses on the diverse water systems in place and the reasons behind their sustainability.

Middle Eastern Universities Development Conference (MEUDC)

November 6, 2023 - November 8, 2023

This conference focuses on Climate Change and its impacts on the development of the region.

Cooling the Arab Gulf: How Air-Conditioning Changed Everything

November 1, 2023

In the Arab Gulf, air-conditioning consumes about 60% of the domestic consumption of electricity. Yet, the ascendency of this technology is far from simple.

Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival

October 23, 2023

In its third edition, Al Sidr Environmental Film Festival is back with a special two-day program, in collaboration with Environment Agency Abu Dhabi and New York University Abu Dhabi and will focus on the upcoming COP28.

Climate Philanthropy Forum

October 16, 2023

The forum will convene regional multi-sectional philanthropic actors and key active players in the climate space to discuss how to leverage the potential of philanthropy to accelerate climate action.

Koyaanisqatsi Live – Film by Godfrey Reggio, Music by Philip Glass

October 5, 2023

Watch Godfrey Reggio’s groundbreaking film Koyaanisqatsi, set to a score by Philip Glass, performed live by the Philip Glass Ensemble, in a hypnotic exploration of nature, urbanization, and a world out of balance.

Fireside chat: Showcasing ESG performance in the way Middle East’s buildings are constructed and managed

October 5, 2023

Join us at 1:55 pm GST during Economist Impact’s 3rd annual Sustainability Week for a pivotal fireside chat. This panel which includes Antonios Vouloudis, Director of Sustainability and Stewardship at NYUAD, will discuss the Middle East's advancements in sustainable architecture and its embrace of ESG-driven building technologies. Register for the talk here.

Invitation: A Just Energy Transition, Bringing Everyone on Board

October 4, 2023

Access for Women in Energy (AccessWIE) in collaboration with the New York University Abu Dhabi is organising a seminar under the theme ‘A Just Energy Transition, Bringing Everyone on Board

Connecting Worlds: Acoustic Ocean & Forest Mind Film Screenings with Ursula Biemann

October 4, 2023

We present two captivating works by director Ursula Biemann, exploring the profound connections of Indigenous communities to their natural environments.

Blane De St. Croix: Horizon

October 3, 2023

In Horizon, sculptor Blane De St. Croix unveils a series of new works rooted in his study of landscapes in the UAE. An artist-researcher, St. Croix works on site, together with scientific researchers, to develop art that is in direct response to the land itself.

Blane De St. Croix: Horizon (Opening Reception)

October 3, 2023

Join us for the opening of our fall exhibition Blane De St. Croix: Horizon at 6pm.

(Internal Event) Plastic Fantastic X Arabian Ocean Rowing Team

October 2, 2023

Professor Khulood Alawadi hosted Toby Gregory, the founder of the Arabian Ocean Rowing team in her Plastic Fantastic course where Toby recounted of his audacious 42-day, 5000km solo row across the Atlantic Ocean with the UN’s Clean Seas initiative.

Rethinking Sustainability and Peace Through a Spiritual Lense

September 21, 2023

The session explores how religious teachings in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism promote sustainable living practices and a sense of environmental stewardship. Featuring Dr Monica Menedez, Associate Dean of Engineering for Graduate Affairs and Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering at NYUAD.

(Internal Event) Textures of Water Access in Urban Egypt (1875-1960)

September 18, 2023

Sustainable Finance Towards Climate Action

September 18, 2023

This panel offers a deep dive into the burgeoning world of sustainable finance within the UAE’s thriving hub. Panelists explore the intricate landscape of the sustainable finance ecosystem and the indispensable role of banking institutions in pioneering green finance to achieve the SDGs set for COP.

Science Summit at UNGA78

September 12, 2023

ISC and its partners will organise the 9th edition of the Science Summit around the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) on 12-29 September 2023.

(Internal Event) Towards a Sustainable Music Ecosystem: Visualizing Threats to Biodiversity, Species and Music Cultures

September 12, 2023

How visualization-based storytelling is used to reveal the interrelationships between the extraction of raw materials for musical instrument making, international trade conditions, the protection status of endangered species and their ecosystems, and possible solutions for a more sustainable music ecosystem.

Now is When We Are

August 31, 2023

Explore a one-of-a-kind immersive experience with thousands of reactive lights and hundreds of speakers creating an interactive theatrical cosmos.

Transition Investment Workshop

May 18, 2023

Bringing together top-tier financial institutions, specialized asset managers, researchers, and policymakers to exchange knowledge and best practices on unlocking large-scale investments in socially impactful projects in emerging and lower-income countries.

The Way We Move: Can Information and Technology Change It?

May 8, 2023

The talk explores whether it is possible to predict how congestion spreads in a city, to develop proactive mitigation strategies, and to alleviate congestion by promoting more sustainable transportation modes.

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Ottoman Period

May 3, 2023

This talk discusses the ramifications of this drastic political transition in the history of the longest rivers in West Asia.