The IEEE Young Professionals Climate and Sustainability Task Force focuses on empowering emerging leaders to contribute to sustainable technology and climate action, fostering engagement and leading initiatives that address climate change–related challenges and potential solutions. Since its launch in 2023, the CSTF has been engaging them in the conversation of how to get involved in the climate and sustainability sectors.
The group held a panel session during last year’s Climate Week NYC, which ran from 22 to 29 September to coincide with the U.N. Summit of the Future. Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event, featuring more than 600 activities throughout New York City. It brings together leaders from the business sector, government, and private organizations to promote climate action and innovation, highlighting the urgent need for transformative change.
The U.N. summit, held on 22 and 23 September, aimed to improve global governance and establish a “pact for the future” focusing on the climate crisis and sustainable development.
The IEEE panel brought together climate-change experts from organizations and government agencies worldwide—including IEEE, the Global Renewables Alliance, and the SDG7 Youth Constituency—to highlight the intersection of technology, policy, and citizen engagement.
Participants from 30 countries attended the panel session.
The event underscored IEEE’s commitment to fostering technological solutions for climate challenges while emphasizing the crucial role of young professionals in driving innovation and change. As the world moves toward critical climate deadlines, the dialogue demonstrated that success is likely to require a combination of technical expertise, policy understanding, and inclusive participation from all stakeholders.
The panel was moderated by IEEE Member Sajith Wijesuriya, chair of the task force, and IEEE Senior Member Sukanya S. Meher, the group’s communications lead and one of the authors of this article.
The moderators guided the discussion through key topics such as organizational collaboration, youth engagement, skill development, and technological advancements.
The panel also highlighted why effective climate solutions must combine technical innovation with inclusive policymaking, ensuring the transition to a sustainable future leaves no community behind.
Engaging youth in mitigating climate change
The panel featured young professionals who emphasized the importance of engaging the next generation of engineers, climate advocates, and students in the climate-action movement.
“Young people, especially women living in [rural] coastal communities, are at the front lines of the climate crisis,” said Grace Young, the strategy and events manager at nonprofit Student Energy, based in Vancouver. Women and girls are disproportionately impacted by climate change because “they make up the majority of the world’s poor, who are highly dependent on local natural resources for their livelihood,” according to the United Nations. Women and girls are often responsible for securing food, water, and firewood for their families, the U.N. says, and during times of drought and erratic rainfall, it takes more time and work to secure income and resources.
That can expose women and girls to increased risks of gender-based violence, as climate change exacerbates existing conflicts, inequalities, and vulnerabilities, according to the organization.
Climate advocates, policymakers, and stakeholders “must ensure that they [women] have a seat at the table,” Young said.
One way to do that is to implement energy education programs in preuniversity schools.
“Young people must be heard and actively involved in shaping solutions,” said Manar Elkebir, founder of EcoWave, a Tunisian youth-led organization that focuses on mobilizing young people around environmental issues.
During the panel session, Elkebir shared her experience collaborating with IRENA—a global intergovernmental group—and the Italian government to implement energy education programs in Tunisian schools. She also highlighted the importance of creating inclusive, nonintimidating spaces for students to engage in discussions about the transition to cleaner energy and other climate-related initiatives.
Young professionals “are not just the leaders of tomorrow; we are the changemakers of today,” she said.
Another group that is increasing its focus on youth engagement and empowerment is the World Meteorological Organization, headquartered in Geneva. The WMO’s Youth Climate Action initiative, for example, lets young people participate in policymaking and educational programs to deepen their understanding of climate science and advocacy.
Such initiatives recognize that the next generation of leaders, scientists, and innovators will be generating transformative changes, and they need to be equipped with knowledge and tools, said panelist Ko Barret, WMO deputy secretary general.
Other discussions focused on the importance of engaging young professionals in the development and implementation of climate change technology. There are an abundance of career opportunities in the field, particularly in climate data analytics, said Bala Prasanna, IEEE Region 1 director.
“Both leadership skills and multidisciplinary learning are needed to stay relevant in the evolving climate and sustainability sectors,” Prasanna said.
Although “climate change represents humanity’s greatest threat,” said Saifur Rahman, 2023 IEEE president, technology-driven solutions were notably underrepresented at climate conferences such as COP27. Rahman urged young engineers to take ownership of the problem, and he directed them to resources such as IEEE’s climate change website, which offers information on practical solutions.
“Technology practitioners will be at the forefront of developing public-private partnerships that integrate cutting-edge technologies with national energy strategies,” said A. Anastasia Kefalidou, acting chief of the IRENA office in New York. “The IRENA NewGen Renewable Energy Accelerator plays a key role in nurturing a new generation of technology practitioners, who can lead innovation and digital transformation in the energy sector.”
The accelerator program provides budding entrepreneurs ages 18 to 35 with mentors and resources to scale projects focused on energy technologies and climate adaptation.
“The dialogue hosted by IEEE Young Professionals during this incredible Climate Week event is helping to bridge the gap between emerging innovators and institutional efforts,” Young added, “providing a platform for fresh perspectives on renewable energy and climate solutions.”
Focus on global partnerships
Fostering global partnerships was on the panelists’ minds.
Collaboration among governments, private companies, and international organizations could accelerate clean energy transitions, particularly in emerging economies, said Ana Rovzar, director of policy and public affairs at the Global Renewables Alliance in Brussels. She highlighted the need for tailored approaches to address regional challenges in climate resilience and energy access.
Environmental journalist Ciara Kavanagh shared how she has been inspired by genuine intersectoral discussions among technical experts, policymakers, communicators, and leaders. The communications specialist at the U.N. Environment Programme in New York discussed how hearing from technical experts can help communicators like her understand renewable technologies.
“If the myriad marvelous ideas coming out of the lab aren’t communicated widely and effectively, we all risk falling short of real impact,” Kavanagh said. She called on fellow young professionals to work together to show the world what a cleaner, greener future powered by renewable energy could look like, and to “ensure the power to build that future is in the hands and homes of those who need it, regardless of where they live.”
At COP28, COP29, and G20, the United Nations outlined ambitious global goals in what is known as the UAE Consensus. One of the goals is tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. Kefalidou highlighted IRENA’s commitment to tracking the targets by analyzing global technology trends while emphasizing the development of next-generation solutions, including advanced solar PV systems, offshore wind farms, and smart-grid technologies.
IRENA’s tracking shows that despite rapid growth in renewable energy, the UAE Consensus’s current plans are projected to achieve only 50 percent of the target capacity by the deadline.
IRENA regularly publishes detailed progress reports including renewable capacity statistics and the World Energy Transitions Outlook.
Not even 20 percent of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals are on track to reach their targets, and more than 40 percent of governments and companies lack net-zero targets, said Shreenithi Lakshmi Narasimhan. In a call to action, the CSTF member and vice chair of the New York IEEE local group emphasized the need for accelerated climate action.
“The tools young professionals need to succeed are already in our hands,” Narasimhan said. “Now we must invest strategically, overcome geopolitical barriers, and drive toward real solutions. The stakes couldn’t be higher.”
Josh Oxby, energy advisor for the U.K.’s Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, emphasized the importance of empowering young changemakers and forming collaborations among private, public, and third-sector organizations to develop a workforce to assist with energy transition. Third-sector organizations include charities, community groups, and cooperative societies.
“Climate Week NYC has highlighted the importance of taking a step back to evaluate the conventional scrutiny of—and engagement with—policy and governance processes,” Oxby said. “Young professionals are the changemakers of today. Their way of forward thinking and reapproaching frameworks for the inclusivity of future generations is a testament to their dynamic and reflective mindset.”
Tech-driven strategies to address the climate crisis
CSTF member Chinmay Tompe highlighted the potential of breakthrough technologies such as quantum computing and simulation in addressing climate change and driving the energy transition.
“Although we have yet to achieve practical quantum utility, recent advancements in the field offer promising opportunities,” Tompe said. “Simulating natural processes, like molecular and particle fluid dynamics, can be achieved using quantum systems. These technologies could pave the way for cleaner energy solutions, including optimized reactor designs, enhanced energy storage systems, and more efficient energy distribution networks. However, realizing this potential requires proactive efforts from policymakers to support innovation and implementation.”
Nuclear energy emerged as a crucial component of the clean energy discussion. Dinara Ermakova advocated for the role nuclear technology can play in achieving net-zero emissions goals, particularly via small modular reactors. Ermakova is an innovation chair for the International Youth Nuclear Congress in Berkeley, Calif. IYNC is a nonprofit that connects students and young professionals worldwide involved in nuclear science and technology.
Marisa Zalabak, founder and CEO of Open Channel Culture, highlighted the ethical dilemmas of technological solutions, specifically those regarding artificial intelligence.
“AI is not a magic bullet,” Zalabak cautioned, “but when governed ethically and responsibly, it can become a powerful tool for driving climate solutions while safeguarding human rights and planetary health.”
She emphasized the importance of regenerative design systems and transdisciplinary collaboration in creating sustainable solutions: “This event reinforced the importance of human collaboration across sectors and the power of youth-driven innovation in accelerating climate action dedicated to human and environmental flourishing for current and future generations.”
Implications of climate tech and policy
IEEE CSTF showed its commitment to sustainability throughout the event. Panelists were presented with customized block-printed shawls made with repurposed fabric. The initiative was led by CSTF member Kalyani Matey and sourced from Divyang Creations, a social enterprise in Latur, India, employing people with disabilities. Leftover refreshments were donated to New York City food banks.
After the panel session concluded, Rahman said participating in it was fulfilling. He commended the young professionals for their “enthusiasm and commitment to help develop a road map to implement some of the SDG goals.”
The outcomes of the discussions were presented at the U.N. Climate Change Conference, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November.
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