NextGen for Earth began with a simple but urgent question: Where are the youth voices in climate science and decision-making? As a climate scientist, I found myself in room after room—policy meetings, academic conferences, expert panels—where the youngest people were often in their late 30s. Students, early-career researchers, young innovators missing. Yet these are the very people whose lives will be most shaped by climate change.  One moment stuck with me. I was attending a national climate dialogue, surrounded by respected professionals—and realized not a single youth representative had been invited. That absence wasn’t just an oversight. It was a symptom of a deeper problem.

Young people care deeply about climate justice. But too often, they’re excluded from the work that matters most. They lack access to platforms, mentorship, and meaningful opportunities to contribute. When their voices are heard, it’s usually at high-level events like COP or UN panels—far from the frontline communities where climate change is hitting hardest, and where their leadership is most needed.

That realization stayed with me and led to the publication of our recent paper on youth engagement in climate research, which you can read here. It explores the systemic barriers young people face—and the practical steps we can take to change that.

In 2024, NextGen for Earth was founded with a mission to empower and connect young people to lead on climate—from local communities to global conversations. We’re building a space where youth can learn, lead, and collaborate—with each other and across generations. Because the future isn’t something we wait for. It’s something we build—together.

Prof Adelaide Lusambili