FOR STUDENTS
Sustainability for Students X SustainaPod
SUSTAINABLE FUTURES TOOLKIT: Empowering Youth for a Green Career
Our Purpose
When we first started our own journeys in the sustainability sector, we found ourselves asking the same questions over and over: What jobs are actually out there? What do people in this space really do? And how do we get from where we are now to where they are? That’s why we created this tool - to make it easier for others like us to access the real insights, career stories, and practical advice from people working in the field. Our goal is to demystify the sustainability industry and make its opportunities more visible and accessible. Whether you're a student, a recent graduate, or just starting to explore a career in sustainability, this is for you - a place to understand the roles that exist, the skills that matter, and how to take the next step with more confidence.
Meet the Team Who Developed This
Eirini Sampson
Eirini is a Greek PhD Researcher at Imperial College London, where she is investigating the role of a just, consumer-centric heating transition in the UK and Europe. She is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Sustainability for Students, an online resource hub that aims to make the sustainability discourse accessible to all while amplifying the voices of the youth. She is passionate about the role of youth in effective knowledge-sharing and decision-making in the climate change discourse. She has been previously recognised as an EU Climate Pact for Greece and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper in London. She holds an LL.B from Queen Mary University of London, an MSc in Energy from the University of Piraeus and a second MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London.
Belinda Ng
Belinda is a sustainability consultant, podcaster and advocate from Hong Kong. She is the Founder and Executive Producer of ‘SustainaPod’, a youth-led podcast that engages youth in direct dialogue with leading sustainability change-makers to explore a range of sustainability topics. She is also one of 30 selected youth leaders of the global Act4Food movement, driving youth engagement across sectors for food systems transformation. Currently, Belinda is a Senior Associate at ERM's Sustainability & Climate Solutions team, working with companies to embed ESG, particularly nature, into their business strategy and operations. Belinda is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and she has received industry-wide recognition in the ESG category as a 'Rising Star' by both the UK Women of the Future Awards 2023 and the Sustainability Delivery Awards 2024. She holds a BA in Geography from The University of Cambridge and an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London.
Sade Bamimore
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Sade Bamimore (she/her) is a sustainability professional based in New York City. Sade is also a published author and she hopes that her book, Reimagining Systems for a Sustainable Future, inspires readers toward sustainability action. Sade enjoys immersive travel and learning about sustainability on a global scale—she has lived in Peru, Denmark, and Costa Rica to learn what sustainability and resilience mean to various communities. Sade has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, a GreenBiz Emerging Leader, and a highly commended Rising Star award winner. Sade holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Certificate in Human Needs and Global Resources from Wheaton College in Illinois.
How to use this action-focused tool
This is not just an informative report, but an action-focused toolkit. We hope it can serve as a springboard for you to discover how you want to start your career with a focus on sustainability and impact.
Throughout the report, there will be key prompts and questions for you to consider on how you can best leverage the insights from our research to consider in your own purposeful sustainability career journey.
We hope this is the start of what is an exciting journey of self-discovery!
For any feedback/ thoughts on how we can improve this, please don’t hesitate to reach out to hello@sustainabilityforstudents.com.
The Problem
According to the World Economic Forum, the demand for green talent, that is, workers with the relevant skills to help address the climate crisis and contribute to sustainable development, is outpacing the supply. In the UK, 70% of young people aged 16-24 surveyed for a report from Groundworks and ESS said they have never received any information on careers that could help fill the talent gap in sustainability-oriented jobs. Nonetheless, having jobs with environmental credentials has been ranked important in other global surveys with Gen Z.
There has never been a more important time to upskill the next generation with ‘green skills’. Job seekers with green skills were nearly 29% more likely to be hired than the workforce average based on LinkedIn reports. ‘Green’ skills range from technical to thematic - this report is demonstrating that these need to be supplemented by a range of soft skills to truly succeed in a role.
Contents & Structure
Pathfinder Tool
London Hub III of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers have developed a tool that will lead you on a path of self-discovery through a four-step journey, guiding you through frameworks and exercises that you can use to gain clarity about your own career journey. Using Pathfinder, this interactive tool brings together a self-discovery journey that supports young people to Discover, Empower, Explore and Plan for their goals.
Soft and Technical Skills
Respondents to our survey highlighted several top soft and technical skills most valued in their line of work. These skills were mentioned the most by respondents. What is evident is that though some jobs require more technical skills than others, there are a couple of stand-out soft skills valued by the majority of respondents.
Career Journey Showcase
When planning the kind of job you want to be applying for, use this section to get a sense of what that job might look like.
Feel free to use the below sections as a reference point, but be sure to do further desktop research and conversations with professionals in your geographic area of interest, as job opportunities, experiences, and salaries will differ greatly in different countries as well as change a lot too.
Features
01. Diverse Industry Insight
Insight from almost 100 industry professionals from all over the world on key skills in the sustainability sector.
02. Career Testimonials
Testimonials from industry professionals for key career professions in the industry.
03. Reality Checks
Advice for developing skills along with CV and interview tips for showcasing skills.
04. Most Valuable Skills
Widely applicable skills identified to be invaluable for succeeding in diverse career paths
05. Career and Skills Mapping
Most relevant skills for specific careers are identified, with advice on how to build them.
