Introduction
In the period from 2000 to 2019, the number of reported natural calamities, such as floods, heatwaves and droughts, increased globally by more than 82 per cent compared to the previous 20-year period, from 1980 to 1999. Unfortunately, this was foreseeable, and yet we did nothing collectively to avert it. The gap is not in our understanding of the cause or the impact of climate change; the gap is in cohesive action that can bend the curve. Universalizing climate action, going beyond siloed efforts, is the key to global sustainability.
According to a 2022 article published in the journal Science, exceeding a global temperature rise of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels could be an irreversible tipping point for natural ecosystems, such as coral reefs, glaciers and rain forests, by the early 2030s. Temperature rise, which is driven and accelerated by unprecedented global greenhouse gas emissions, will irreversibly impact global food security, water equity and health ecosystems. It is no longer a question of whether climate change will have an irrevocable impact on life on earth; it is a question of how soon this impact will occur. Advocacy, beyond doomsday prophesies, is an imperative to inspire constructive, collaborative and cohesive action from across the globe. And the time for such action is now!
International initiatives such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Conference of the Parties summits, and the Paris Agreement support policies, agreements and laws on climate action, whereas member countries drive initiatives to fulfil those mandates. In India, this is being done through the National Action Plan on Climate Change. However, in spite of global treaties and cooperation, we are falling short of our yearly targets and global goals for climate change mitigation. A long-term strategy framework for sustained climate action is required, reflecting cognizance of the socioeconomic and cultural factors of community action and engagement. In other words, climate action needs to be democratized and integrated with the other national and international mandates for sustainability.
Back to the drawing board: sustainability education – a long-term solution
Developing solutions for clean energy, green technologies and policy reforms are some of the many ways of driving the sustainability mandate. While efforts are ongoing in these respective domains, there is also an urgent need to drive solutions with a bottom-up approach through education and the development of relevant skills. This approach to climate empowerment is about building solutions today for a sustained impact through the main drivers of change – our youth! Sustainability education would amalgamate the interconnectedness between nature, society and economy for a sustainability mindset in the citizens of tomorrow.
The 1 Million for 1 Billion (1M1B) Foundation is an accredited non-profit organization in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC). Its mission is to activate 1 million young leaders to impact 1 billion people. The 1.5 Matters initiative, launched by 1M1B in December 2024 with support from DGC, empowers global youth with the knowledge and skills needed for climate action and sustainable innovation. It brings together academic institutions, governments, businesses and grass-roots communities to build a generation of climate problem-solvers. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Indian state governments of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Meghalaya, which are playing a key role in scaling the model. Anchored in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 – Partnerships for the Goals, 1.5 Matters offers a globally adaptable framework for collaborative, youth-led climate action.
Sustainability education – are we getting this right?
“Sustainability” seems to be the operative word these days, as it is tied to nearly all aspects of climate change and the future of life on Earth, but the true meaning of the term remains unclear to many. Sustainability goes beyond advocating for recycling or listing startling facts about climate change. Sustainability education is about fostering systems thinking, critical reasoning and ethical consciousness that drive long-term decision-making to understand the interconnectedness of human and ecological systems, and in recognizing the social justice dimensions of climate change. It has more to do with long-term efforts emanating from a sustainability mindset rather than sporadic and poorly coordinated actions that have no impact in the long run. Embedding sustainability in educational institutions also means preparing educators to facilitate these conversations effectively. It means redesigning pedagogy to be interdisciplinary and enabling students to co-create solutions. When sustainability is incorporated into the learning journey, it cultivates leadership, empathy and innovation – essential traits for climate-resilient citizenship.
Green skills for a green economy
Taking a step further, integrating sustainability education into the teaching curriculum not only fosters a mindset change but also equips youth for emerging green jobs. In India and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where climate impacts are more severe, climate empowerment offers a scalable path for economic growth.
As we accelerate towards a net-zero future, in which greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere, one of the most pressing challenges is the shortage of a skilled climate workforce. According to the International Labour Organization, transitioning to a green economy could generate up to 100 million new jobs globally by 2030, while failure to act could result in the loss of 72 million full-time jobs due to heat stress alone. Building this workforce requires urgent investment in green skills, linking education to real-world careers through internships, mentorship and collaborative action.
Amalgamating green skills and technology to accelerate climate action
In our digital era, every opportunity and solution is integrated with technology. Artificial intelligence (AI), data science, augmented reality, virtual reality and other digital innovations are not only reshaping industries but are also critical to designing and implementing climate solutions. Hence, it is imperative that students be introduced to how these technologies intersect with green skills and sustainability for climate action. Tech-powered educational tools can enable students to visualize climate trends, simulate green design models and apply coding or machine learning to real environmental challenges. This not only makes learning more engaging but also aligns students’ skillsets with the needs of green industries.
The 1M1B approach: a model for scalable action
In India, 1M1B has been pioneering a comprehensive and scalable model that integrates sustainability education, technology and youth mobilization into actionable programmes. Through partnerships with government bodies, corporations and educational institutions, 1M1B is converting intent into action, thus creating a future-ready climate workforce and nurturing young leaders.
Green Skills Academy: bridging the industry readiness gap
The 1M1B Green Skills Academy addresses the gap between traditional education and industry-relevant green skills by equipping youth with both technical and soft skills needed for the green economy. Through workshops, internships, live projects and mentoring, students gain expertise in AI, sustainable design, project management and climate tech. In partnership with corporations, government agencies and multiple state governments, over 6,000 students have been engaged since December 2024, with more than 800 sustainability projects underway. The programme focuses on measurable outcomes in clean energy, waste management and water conservation. Job readiness centres further extend this model to rural areas, linking youth with green employment opportunities.
Global implications and the road ahead
Initiatives in sustainability education are skill-building models that are launchpads for future climate workforce. They demonstrate how civil society organizations like 1M1B can play a vital role in leveraging partnerships with businesses, governments and educational institutions to transform the potential energy of young changemakers into actionable, youth-led climate action. With over 1.2 billion young people between 15 and 24 years of age around the world, these models have global relevance and a huge scope for scalability and adaptability, especially in LMICs.
Contributing to United Nations mandates on climate action
In order to replicate and scale 1M1B climate empowerment models within India and other LMICs, sustainability should be integrated into core curricula at all levels of mainstream education. Forging successful public-private partnerships by connecting the synergies between all stakeholders can ensure that green skills training matches industry demand. Capacity-building workshops for educators are essential to equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to teach sustainability.
The Pact for the Future, signed at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024, recognizes youth as the agents of change and their crucial role in climate action. Today’s youth are not willing to be passive onlookers as the climate changes. They are thinkers, doers and changemakers who are ready to transform the world in a way never seen before. But their potential must be supported with education systems that prioritize sustainability, training programmes that build relevant skills and platforms that translate learning into leadership. The work of 1M1B over the past decade provides a compelling road map for how this transformation can take place. Together, we can empower youth to build a sustainable and green future, one changemaker at a time.
The UN Chronicle is not an official record. It is privileged to host senior United Nations officials as well as distinguished contributors from outside the United Nations system whose views are not necessarily those of the United Nations. Similarly, the boundaries and names shown, and the designations used, in maps or articles do not necessarily imply endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
