Hamid Albastaki is a university student studying System and Management Engineering in Abu Dhabi. Although his sustainability journey only began in August 2023, he has since dedicated much of his time and skills towards contributing to the UAE’s collective action for a greener future. Let’s hear about his wonderful experiences from the past year!
Hamid is not shy about the recent start to his sustainability journey; in fact, he sees his story as a proud example that it’s never too late to learn and contribute to sustainability.
The story began in August 2023, when Hamid joined the Ministry of Education’s Game Changers Programme for Climate Diplomacy. The education he gained from the programme transformed him from a person who knew nothing about sustainability into a passionate, outspoken advocate for it. He understood that everyone in his generation and the next needs to work together to mitigate climate challenges, because their actions now will determine the consequences they will live through in the future.
“We need everyone in the world to know about climate change and understand how serious it is.”
Hamid’s next opportunity came through the COP28 Simulation Model, a three-month programme that taught youth about climate literacy, international climate action, and the role of youth in climate action diplomacy and debate. Through this programme, Hamid honed his leadership, debate, and moderation skills in the context of sustainability. He successfully completed the programme as a top performer.
Soon afterward, Her Excellency Dr. Amna Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment in the UAE, saw his talents and encouraged him to continue leading panels and moderating discussions. At COP28, she chose him to host sessions on climate diplomacy and sustainable energy education, which featured herself and other climate leaders. Hamid’s excitement grew as he realised that his strength lay in utilising his public speaking skills to drive sustainability initiatives in the UAE.
Since then, Hamid has participated in various panels and discussions–including the Future Sustainability Leaders Programme by Masdar and a panel discussion at NSTI Festival–and met many global sustainability enthusiasts and leaders. He hopes that he can also apply the knowledge he’s gained in his area of study, incorporating sustainability into the way he manages systems to create sustainable businesses.
His advice to people starting out their sustainability journey is to make consciously sustainable decisions in their lives. Instead of plastic bottles, use jars of water. Instead of packaged produce, grow your own organic plants. He says that just a few decades ago, that was how our ancestors lived, and when we follow in their footsteps, we protect both ourselves and our land.
Do you want to keep up with Hamid’s latest sustainability ventures? You can follow his Instagram account @h.bastaki
