AUC at COP28

As developing nations face increased and disproportionate threats of climate change, Professor Shahjahan Bhuiyan’s research found that public administration efforts need to be tailored to the specific infrastructure of development. With growing international environmental insecurity, sustainability must work in tandem with development conscious governance. Together with Jose Puppim de Oliveira, Bhuiyan co-edited a special issue of Urban Climate titled “Cities and Climate Change in Developing Countries.” “This issue reflects our passion for the topic,” Bhuiyan said. “The papers included in the issue, individually and collectively, improve our understanding of the diverse impacts of climate change and highlight the responses and solutions that cities have adopted to address these challenges.”As climate change continues to threaten our world, a perspective that assesses the moral imperative to solving the environmental crisis is crucial. While audiences might not initially consider the climate crisis a matter for public administration, Bhuiyan argues that without a holistic, public-sensitive approach, long-lasting, equitable change is unlikely.“Climate change poses a serious threat to humanity, impacting food security, natural ecosystems, freshwater supply, and health,” he said. “Governance plays a role in all these elements, and so we must focus on how to improve the quality of governance.”Bhuiyan found that climate change solutions must be sensitive to a city’s level of development, with approaches changing for centers still undergoing urbanization. There is an extra challenge for developing countries, as they have to discover sustainable solutions alongside building fundamental public administration systems, such as waste management and transportation infrastructure. However, this also means that developing nations have more opportunities to include climate-conscious policies in their strategic plans and programs. Instead of having to rework their whole system, developing nations can urbanize with climate solutions in mind.“Advancing the urban climate agenda in developing countries is based largely on linking climate change to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as these countries often struggle to provide basic services and face numerous 'wicked' problems,” Bhuiyan said, explaining the increased struggle for developing nations.  It is imperative that developing countries work with climate-forward solutions in mind, as they have a higher vulnerability to climate change. Bhuiyan said: “A number of African cities —  including Cairo — are undergoing rapid urbanization and are doing so with climate based solutions in mind, such as urban agriculture and institutional reliance on sustainable energy.”  “A number of African cities —  including Cairo — are undergoing rapid urbanization and are doing so with climate based solutions in mind, such as urban agriculture and institutional reliance on sustainable energy.” Bhuiyan’s research builds off of the work of 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27), hosted in Egypt, as well as the Symposium on Cities and Climate Change in Developing Countries, hosted by AUC’s School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. These conferences gave academics and industry leaders the platform to understand the differences in climate-smart solutions needed from developing and developed nations. Bhuiyan worked with colleagues to compile these findings into a research paper and make recommendations for climate-smart development.Bhuiyan has been researching public administration for almost three decades, studying how the governance of a country impacts its people and its international relationship. His research has focused on a number of countries, from Bangladesh to Kazakhstan to Egypt. He has learned the ways good governance can positively impact people’s lives and wants his legacy to be helping people implement good governance. “Governments have an ethical duty to stop climate change,” he professed. “And as researchers, we can help guide them.”By using lessons learned from countries that have successfully implemented climate mitigation strategies, Bhuiyan is helping to develop policy solutions to support a climate-smart future. Information sharing through conferences such as COP 27 and the Symposium on Cities and Climate Change in Developing Countries is one way to improve policy research.“The Global North and Global South have a duty to share information,” he said, addressing the importance of collaboration. “As societies continue to develop, all we need is transparency, rule of law and good governance. With this, we can work together as an international community to improve the human condition.”“As societies continue to develop, all we need is transparency, rule of law and good governance. With this, we can work together as an international community to improve the human condition.”

With the support of the new Kerr Family Scholarship, AUC freshman Malak Hashem is on her path to becoming an architect whose buildings will address challenges to sustainability faced by communities worldwide. “We have a lot of global challenges, like pollution and the use of nonrenewable resources,  so I chose architecture in order to solve these global issues. My current interest is in sustainability and net-zero building. I hope, with my knowledge, that I can help a lot of people and communities in installing these methods so that we can maintain a stable and sustainable environment,” Hashem says.Hashem’s studies at AUC were made possible through the newly founded Kerr Family Scholarship, which partially supports an undergraduate student from freshman year until graduation based on their academic merit and financial need. A lifelong passion for drawing, crafting and sculpting led Hashem to study historical art, where she discovered the beauty of geometric Islamic architecture and the grandeur of ornamented Baroque ceilings. This blend of beauty and function inspired Hashem to major in architecture, a discipline she says “can’t be replaced with AI because humans are the only ones capable of being creative.”  "I became interested in architecture because it's a mix of both worlds, art and also practicality. It's something that can help people around the world with."The University’s New Cairo campus is the perfect place for an aspiring architect to study. The low-lying Andalusian-inspired campus gardens provide crucial greenery and shade, recirculating water to minimize waste amid Egypt’s water shortage. Summer winds usher its cool moist air into the heart of campus, which spreads through internal courtyards and windcatchers, reducing the need for air conditioning. Hashem’s dream is to use sustainable energy in her future buildings to dull the blow of the water crisis. “I hope with my knowledge that I can support a lot of people and help communities in installing these methods so that we can maintain a stable and sustainable environment,” Hashem says.On a campus built brick by brick to encourage connection and prioritize sustainability, Hashem has found a likeminded community. Conversations with seniors in her major have made her excited to take an architecture theory class, which analyzes the historical purposes behind structures and offers new opportunities to explore the architecture that inspires her. AUC’s Core Curriculum has also exposed her to new topics at a deeper level, such as the study of beauty in the rhetoric and composition department. “I got to learn about beauty as a really important concept that is deeply rooted in every aspect of our life, and it doesn’t have to do with appearances or social media trends,” Hashem says.With opportunities to address the world’s greatest challenges, Hashem is taking classes across disciplines— business, psychology, sociology— to develop as an architect and person, in preparation to create a more beautiful and sustainable world.“I won’t just stop at undergraduate. I will also do my best in order to attain more knowledge through my graduate studies, so that one day I could achieve my dream to build communities that are sustainable,” she affirms.

A new study correlating rising temperatures with women’s cancer in the Middle East recently attracted global media attention, seizing headlines in outlets like The Washington Post, Daily Mail, Fortune and more. Behind the research are authors Wafa Abu El Kheir-Mataria (MPA ’18, PhD ’23), a senior research fellow at AUC’s Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology (IGHHE), and Professor Sungsoo Chun, who conducted the observational study at IGHEE.“This research rang an alarm that we need to be aware of in health policies,” said Mataria. She initially proposed the topic due to her concern over gender disparity in healthcare and the broader vulnerability of the region with climate change. Her alarm rang loud and clear, with the paper scoring in the top 5% of all research outputs and the top 1% for high attention as compared with papers of the same age, according to Altmetric (a platform that measures and ranks the engagement that research articles receive beyond traditional citation counts).The study analyzed data from 17 countries over a 20-year period, checking for correlations between temperature increases and mortality rates from four types of female cancers: breast, uterine, ovarian and cervical. “This research rang an alarm that we need to be aware of in health policies.”While the overall correlation was the first result, a country-by-country breakdown provided secondary results. “Is this valid for each and every country or not?” Mataria inquired. The correlation was ultimately found to be statistically significant for six countries, with the most striking results in Gulf states. It was also particularly strong for breast and cervical cancers. Mataria unpacked some likely causes based on the literature: “Heat increases exposure to pollutants and disrupts healthcare systems, delaying diagnosis and treatment. It may also alter cell structure. Women are more vulnerable due to limited access and cultural taboos around breast and cervical cancer,” she said. Chun added that the best thing countries can do now is abide by multilateral climate-targeted policies, such as the Paris Agreement (an international climate treaty signed in 2016 that seeks to curb global warming). “The Paris Agreement is one of the clearest guidelines on how to stop rising temperatures. Implementing its exact recommendations for each country is essential to stopping climate change,” he said, though he noted that many nations are failing to meet the treaty’s criteria.“Although we promised only one paper, many journalists are concerned about the severity of the findings. That means that this is a really urgent, in-demand topic to solve globally.”Beyond women, Chun emphasized that vulnerable populations will suffer disproportionately if global conditions don’t change. “Post-colonial populations, older people, children and, of course, women have unique weaknesses in certain periods, such as during childbirth. So we should make clear programs or policies to support these vulnerable populations, especially through a strengthened healthcare system,” Chun said.This research is not just relevant to those facing health problems or working in the health sector; it can be used to inform health policy, address gender gaps and understand the impacts of climate change. “This concerns not only people in the health sector, but also in policy, sustainability and other areas. Health is relevant to all fields, and it’s good to work together,” said Mataria.Mataria views researchers at institutions like AUC as indispensable to the field. “We open people’s eyes on certain topics. Research and evidence draw attention,” she said, “Numbers talk.”   Mataria and Chun are also hoping to receive more grants to continue the novel research. “Although we promised only one paper, many journalists are concerned about the severity of the findings. That means that this is a really urgent, in-demand topic to solve globally,” said Chun. “There’s not much on it yet,” added Mataria.Even as the pair’s findings are making waves in the media, they were quick to point out that more research will be needed to understand the results. “This research is preliminary, but it’s a good start,” added Mataria. “There are so many contributing factors to the instance of cancers. We need to make another experimental design controlling not only for the setting but also for community levels,” said Chun.The trailblazing article is now paving the way for international research focused on the intersection of climate change and women’s health. Mataria said, “It’s really just one point in a sea of research. There is a lot to do.”

Earlier this month, 14 AUCians joined young changemakers from the MENA region at the first-ever Regional American Field Service (AFS) Youth Assembly in Cairo to tackle urgent issues like climate change, education and food security.Inspired by the United Nations Summit of the Future, the regional assembly met for one day to discuss the needs and interests of future generations while calling for meaningful participation of youth in forums for progress. Junior Jannah Hella, who attended on behalf of AUC and is a representative of the student-led organization Heya: The Women’s Initiative, said, “Having these discussions in Cairo, surrounded by passionate peers, made the issues feel even more urgent and relevant to our region.”The theme was “Leading with Purpose: Empowering Generations to Create the World We Want,” bringing together youth and older generations to dissect topics of global importance. It consisted of four panels focused on climate change, the future of learning, foot security in MENA and Africa, and innovation for the future. “These themes couldn’t be more relevant,” said Hella. “The MENA and Africa are already facing the consequences of climate change, from water scarcity to disrupted agriculture, making the discussion extremely urgent. We need solutions designed by those who understand the region’s context and challenges, and that’s why youth must be involved.”Sophomore Nathaly Thoma of the AUC Folklore Troupe also represented the University at the regional assembly. “I think the overall theme and panel topics are quite significant for our region,” she said. “I especially appreciated how the discussions emphasized the importance of empathy and inclusivity, even in areas like innovation, which are often seen as purely technical.”"We need solutions designed by those who understand the region’s context and challenges, and that’s why youth must be involved.”The conference sought to create a space where young voices can be heard and youth can engage with experienced leaders. “Being in a space where my ideas were taken seriously was incredibly empowering; it made me feel seen, heard and motivated to advocate for change in my own community,” Hella said. “I hope that this assembly inspires more youth to step out of their comfort zones in order to learn new things about themselves as well as the world they live in. “Investing in youth is the best way of investment for our future,” Thoma added.Ultimately, this network sought to serve as a catalyst for action, enabling participants to create lasting change through mentorship opportunities for growth and sociocultural exchange. “My main takeaway is the fact that peace can be achieved through cross-cultural programs … [The Regional AFS Youth Assembly] revealed a fresh and powerful perspective on how peace can be fostered at the grassroots level,” said Thoma.Hella has big hopes for the assembly’s future, from continued youth involvement to real community-based change: “I would love to see the ideas we shared turned into action. I believe in the AFS mission because it goes beyond empowering individuals; it builds a global community that lasts for generations.” Photo caption: Jannah Hella and Nathaly Thoma attend the Regional AFS Youth Assembly alongside 12 other AUCians.