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…
Read full article: IEEE Young Professionals Talked Sustainability Tech at Climate Week NYC
The post “IEEE Young Professionals Talked Sustainability Tech at Climate Week NYC” by Chinmay Tompe was published on 01/03/2025 by spectrum.ieee.org