EAD Launches ADERN, an Initiative to Accelerate Climate Research Solutions

Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced the official launch of Abu Dhabi Environmental Research Network (ADERN), a community of research scientists, research institutions and allied innovators.

Designed and facilitated by EAD, ADERN aims to convene research and development experts around the scientific knowledge gaps facing stakeholders in their efforts to sustain and continuously enhance the environment of the emirate.

As the UAE prepares to host COP28 in November 2023, the launch of ADERN showcases Abu Dhabi's determination to tackle climate change. This is a major climate research milestone which aligns with the vision of the Year of Sustainability.

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ADERN will play a crucial role in advancing the understanding and implementation of sustainability in Abu Dhabi. To support the research efforts of ADERN, EAD has developed the Abu Dhabi Environmental Research Needs Register, an extensive list of more than 200 research requirements.

An Environmental Knowledge Graph System, a world-first innovation developed to analyse and communicate cause-effect relationships between humans and the environment, and the impact of a changed environment on human wellbeing.

EAD’s enviroportal contains data from its 25 years of research. And an Environmental Research Directory will catalogue the hundreds of environmental researchers and allied innovators, also research facilities, research projects and events.

Collectively these tools will help stakeholders make science-based decisions that address the environmental challenges faced by the emirate.

Eight universities have joined ADERN as founding institutional members. These include Abu Dhabi University, Al Ain University, American University of Sharjah, Khalifa University, NYU Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), and Zayed University.

Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of Environment Information, Science Outreach Management Sector, at EAD, said: “We are facing unprecedented challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

"We cannot ignore these issues, and time is of the essence. That is why today, we launch the Abu Dhabi Environmental Research Network, a groundbreaking initiative to revolutionise how we approach science-based problem-solving."

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