Timeline -1997 to 2050
1997
University of Sharjah established by HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi.
2017
UoS Sustainability Office established. UoS joins the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings for the first time and takes 1st place in the UAE.
2020
UoS designates “Sustainability 2020” as an internal awareness year for students, faculty and staff.
2021
UoS joins the AASHE STARS program and earns a Silver rating in its first year of participation.
2021/22
Academic year set as the GHG emissions baseline for the Race to Zero Action Plan.
2022
UoS becomes the first Arab university to earn a STARS Gold rating. UI GreenMetric 2022: 1st in the UAE for the 6th consecutive year, 81st globally, 7th in Infrastructure, 22nd in Water, 73rd in Waste, 85th in Education & Research. Also 1st in the UAE for 3 years running on the SDG-based ranking. Race to Zero Action Plan published, pledging net-zero by 2050 and a 50% interim cut by 2030.
2023
UI GreenMetric: UoS reaches the global top 100, 1st in the UAE for the 7th consecutive year. Race to Zero progress recorded against the 2022 baseline: university fleet emissions down 49%, backup generator emissions down 94%, purchased-paper emissions down 50%.
2024
UI GreenMetric 2024: 67th globally, 1st in the UAE (8th consecutive year), 2nd in the GCC, 3rd in the Arab World; 6th globally in Infrastructure, 23rd in Water, 24th in Education. STARS Platinum achieved — first university in the Middle East, one of only 15 worldwide. Race to Zero 2024 Progress Report published, expanding the emissions inventory to include water and commuting for the first time.
2030 TARGET
Interim target: at least a 50% reduction in CO₂ emissions across measured sources, versus the 2021/22 baseline, aligned with the IPCC 1.5°C pathway.
2050 TARGET
Net-zero target aligned with the UAE's national Net Zero by 2050 strategy.
