Knowing people in their teens and 20s proves that hope comes from taking action
In late September, 18-year-old Swedish climate champion Greta Thunberg criticized the "empty promises" of world leaders at the Youth4Climate forum in Milan.
"There is no planet B. There is no planet Blah. Wait, wait, wait."
"This is everything we heard from the so-called leaders. It sounds good, but so far it hasn't been done," said Tunberg, who dictated the climate of the past 30 years as for present and future generations. betray.
She is not alone. An autumn survey of 10,000 16-25-year-olds in 10 countries found "general psychological distress" and a sense of betrayal of the government's inadequate response to the climate. Confidence in business is also plummeting. According to Deloitte’s annual global survey of millennials and Gen Z members, the number of young people who believe that business has a positive impact on society will drop from 76% in 2017 to 47% in 2021.
"We can no longer let those in power decide what is politically possible," Tunberg said.
Gen Z and millennials can't wait. They channel their anxiety about the state of the planet by holding those in power accountable, redefining what is possible and pushing for solutions.
On September 24, hundreds of thousands of people in nearly 100 countries returned to the streets to participate in a global climate strike for the first time since the pandemic began. A few days later, a thought-provoking study published in the journal Science highlighted the stakes. Compared with people born 60 years ago, children born in 2020 will experience on average twice as many wildfires and three times as many droughts, floods and crop failures.
Nevertheless, about half of the young people surveyed by the Pew Research Center expressed their belief that we can reduce the impact of climate change. They're doing more than any other generation to be part of the solution, whether they're volunteering, attending rallies or contacting their elected officials. They also pursue environmental-related degrees and careers in record numbers.
As this year’s list of 30 sustainability leaders under the age of 30 reveals, they are pushing the companies they work for to be more environmentally friendly, starting their own innovative companies and NGOs, and leading change at any time.
When Corporate Knights opened up to the public in April this year's 30 nominations under the age of 30, we received a record number of inspiring candidates. It is difficult for an internal team to narrow the submitted list to a short list of 60 people. Then a panel of judges each submitted their top 30 picks and counted their votes.
The list is full of indigenous leaders, renewable energy champions, climate activists, clean technology innovators, social entrepreneurs, zero waste advocates, researchers, engineers, etc. Reading their stories will make you want to improve yourself and realize that, as Thunberg said, "Hope is not bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. Hope is telling the truth. Hope is taking action. Hope always comes from the people."
Do you want to be 30 under 30 next year? We know that there are hordes of young people who are paving the way. Please visit corporateknights.com in April 2022 to nominate any change agents under the age of 30 that you think should be considered for inclusion on the list next year.
Tabatha Bull Chairman of the Canadian Aboriginal Business Council
Jyoti Stephens Nature's Path Vice President of Mission and Strategy
Catherine Abreu Executive Director, Climate Action Network
The editor-in-chief of Adria Vasil Corporate Knights and the best-selling author of the Ecoholic series.
Rosalie LaBillois comes from a Mi'kmaq fisherman family who lives on the Atlantic coast. She was born and raised between Listuguj, Quebec and Eel River Bar First Nation, New Brunswick. "I was raised by parents and families who are committed to breaking cycles and healing intergenerational traumas," Rabbi Lois said. "Through our rituals, we understand who we are, as the real steward of this land." Driven by traditional teachings, the co-chair of the Assembly of First Nations National Youth Council (now in her third elected term) has been a vocal advocate for sustainability, leading national youth gatherings on climate action and water protection. This Cape Breton University student is also a youth participation officer for the Ulnooweg Indigenous Community Foundation. LaBillois said: "Once we all understand that we are equally responsible for taking care of this land, and we work together, then we will see real change."
Ashley Wang said that despite corporate efforts to become more diversified and inclusive, the composition of the financial services industry is still surprisingly homogeneous. "This is why the launch of Inclusion in Impact Investing (III) is one of my proudest moments so far. [It] combines my work in impact investing with my passion for creating space and belonging for disadvantaged groups "When she was a teenager, Wang’s family moved from China to Canada, where her parents’ current education was not recognized. "My family has inspired my interest in sustainability work," Wang said. SVX’s senior assistants support a network of more than 1,200 investors who use their capital for profits and goals. In addition to his work at SVX, Wang also co-founded the London Social Value Fund, the first youth-led impact investment organization in Ontario. Wang said, “By guiding capital from traditional financial markets to impact investing, we have the opportunity to return to the original vision of serving the real needs of the planet and people.”
“It started with a science project in my high school and is still ongoing,” said Adam Noble, the founder of an innovative food technology company that has raised $42.5 million in funding to date and has more than 50 employees in Petersburg, Ontario. . "We never thought... we would have a complete meat simulant that tastes exactly the same as the meat it is replacing." Noblegen uses a microorganism called Euglena gracilis and local corn and cassava Starch is used to produce plant-based eggs, meat, fish, and dairy analogs that are not genetically engineered. His next project to save the world: alliance with farmers. "We believe that we can strengthen the relationship between farmers and the natural world at the microbiological level, which will enhance our role in the carbon cycle while continuing to feed the world in a more sustainable way." Noble's magic weapon: "If you have to be alone Bear the burden of seeing the vision, please don’t get discouraged. If you really want to change the world, you have to stay a little longer and be patient."
Natalie Pecile works for a company with 27,000 restaurants worldwide, and she knows that Restaurant Brands International has great potential to advance the fast food industry. Two years ago, she received a new position responsible for formulating sustainable development strategies for the parent companies of Tim Hortons, Burger King and Popeyes. Since then, Pecile has helped formulate global policies on deforestation, animal welfare and packaging, as well as a new scientific goal to reduce greenhouse gases by 50% by 2030. From the inside out is a key part of a more sustainable future, which depends on fundamental changes in all aspects of our society," said the 27-year-old young man. "As long as you devote your time wholeheartedly, even if it is our society’s greatest challenge , It can also be solved by someone like you or me. "
In 2019, after Calvin Yang co-organized the largest climate protest in U.S. history through Fridays for Future International in New York City, his goal was to green his home country, Canada. The young media coordinator founded the Canadian Youth Climate Action Alliance (CYACA), a non-profit lobbying company led by Gen Z, dedicated to advancing a non-partisan federal climate policy. "As a young Conservative Party, I recognize that climate change poses a major threat to the future prosperity of our society, and actively cooperate with Canadians in various political fields to cope with this issue as a country," Yang said. CYACA has a team of dedicated young Canadians and industry professionals who helped amend the C-12 bill and other climate legislation, and cooperated with IPSOS to launch a poll for Gen Z voters. A freshman at the University of California, Berkeley said: "In this political climate, youth participation in our democracy is more important than ever."
Julie Reimer has embarked on a tortuous and unexpected road to sustainable development. The 29-year-old PhD student said that she loved public speaking, learning and volunteering since she was a child, but it was not until later that she found her passion: the ocean. "Canada has the largest coastline in the world, with oceans in the east, west and north," she said. "We are a blue country on a blue planet. Protecting the ocean is very important to humans. Whether you feel connected to the ocean or not, it is our great unity." Her published research focuses on common tools (such as ocean The potential of protected areas to support underwater ecosystems. Reimer is now the youngest president of the Canadian Sierra Club Foundation Board of Directors and Atlantic Director. She also serves as the All-Atlantic Youth Ambassador of the All-Atlantic Research Alliance.
As the number of electric vehicles on the road proliferate, millions of batteries will have nowhere to go-the average capacity of these batteries is still 80% of the original capacity. "It is very important to develop a scrap plan for EV batteries so that they don't end up in landfills and generate toxic waste," Sumreen Rattan said. "By reusing [them], we ensure that they are used for the second life application and experience a circular economy." Rattan is the co-founder and COO of award-winning startup Moment Energy. Moment's batteries are two-thirds of the storage cost of replacing lithium-ion batteries and are currently used to store energy for off-grid customers. As one of the few female graduates of Simon Fraser's Mechatronics System Engineering project, Rattan is proud to build a business from scratch after graduating from university. She has some suggestions for fledgling entrepreneurs: “Creating positive impact and successful companies can go hand in hand. Don’t let anyone convince you.”
As a first nation carrier woman from Lake Babin in central British Columbia, Sage Lacerte has a bold "return" idea, which is to return to the lifestyle related to Mother Earth. In 2019, the 23-year-old midwife founded the Sage Initiative, which is Canada’s first and only Indigenous womxn impact investment group: every year, 10 Indigenous womxn meet for six months of investment literacy and indigenous business Trauma knowledge training. Lacerte stated that by investing up to $50,000 per year in indigenous-owned, mission-led companies, “we are working to reverse the current white male-centric paradigm and allow womxn to play a vital leadership role in our economy. "We are working hard to repair a gap in the ecosystem. Redefine the function of money through the perspective of matriarchy and transform its function to promote the relationship between us, not to divide us."
Phil De Luna knows what happens when the entire community depends on one industry. "When Ford closed their assembly plant, my father was an auto worker and he lost his job. I see the same thing in today's heavy emission industry." De Luna has been helping Canada escape his entire career. Carbon began with his PhD in materials science and engineering at the University of Toronto, where he discovered new and renewable methods of converting carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals. He was quickly recruited as the youngest ever director of the Canadian National Research Council, where he led a $57 million collaborative research project. The Governor’s gold medalist suspended his dream job to become the Green Party candidate in St. Louis, Toronto. Paul's 2021 federal election, all of this is to help promote more aggressive climate action. "We need to do everything we can to diversify the Canadian economy and create a more sustainable economy to ensure that families have sustainable green jobs."
As a foodie and environmentalist, Julianna Greco often feels conflicted about ordering food. “Locally, Toronto provides about 39 million take-out meals every year, which, conservatively speaking, means that we throw away 78 million pieces of trash every year,” she explained. "To make matters worse, only 9% of the items we put in the recycling bin are actually recycled." She and a friend started a reusable takeaway container service to help the catering industry eliminate disposable containers. With the surge in takeaway orders, Suppli's business model took off during the pandemic. In the 10 months since its launch, Suppli has partnered with 25 local restaurants to save nearly 10,000 disposable takeaway containers from the landfill. In addition to extending Suppli's circular economy model to more Canadian cities, Greco's long-term vision is: "I hope future generations will want to know what a disposable takeaway container is!"
Hawa Keita was born in Senegal and grew up in France. When the organization's activities suddenly became untenable, he served as the executive director of CEED Concordia in Montreal. This non-profit organization provides students from Concordia and Uganda with a three-month internship in a sustainable community project in northern Uganda. After the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, the global COVID-19 pandemic quickly brought the organization to a standstill. Within a year, Keita adjusted CEED’s activities to prevent its collapse: she expanded the CEED project to three other countries (Ghana, Senegal and Colombia), introduced a new project for online international cooperation, and launched a The National Entrepreneurship Training Program integrates students with social justice and environmental business concepts, and at the same time increases CEED's annual income by 50%. What motivates Keita? "I believe that no matter where we are from, we must have the same opportunities and opportunities. If we consider ourselves as a global community, we can achieve a lot together."
If we have a chance to mitigate the effects of global warming, humans will have to figure out how to remove large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the next few years. This is where Brock Battochio and his colleagues come in. At the age of 26, Battochio co-founded a clean technology company called Planetary Hydrogen. The company obtained a patent for a device that captures carbon dioxide from the air and stores it in seawater while producing clean hydrogen. . Battochio said the company uses a method called "ocean air capture" to permanently sequester carbon dioxide while reversing ocean acidification. "There are a series of [climate] solutions. To be honest, we all need them, but we think the ocean is the largest and most influential solution to this problem," he said. The company listed Shopify as one of its first customers, and Battochio is leading the technology development of the demonstration plant, which is expected to open next year.
This summer, when Michael Vegh returned to his home in the aboriginal community of Bella Bella on the coast, his task was to implement his national reconciliation process. "'Haíłcístut' means'turn things around and make things right again', this is Heiltsuk's view of reconciliation," explained the 26-year-old environmental studies graduate. Vegh will provide $65 million in funding for 53 unique projects. "When these projects are completed, dozens of houses will undergo major renovations, new home ownership will increase, our language will flourish, hundreds of jobs will be created, we will manage our own oceans, and we will lay the foundation for Heiltsuk is self-governing.” The former climate action coordinator of the coastal indigenous peoples is also the lead author of the Haíłzaqv Clean Energy Program. "It's so satisfying to take all these experiences home and work for my country," Vegh said. "I am lucky to have many mentors, and they always show me what it means to maintain our Gvi'las [law] and create a better world for future generations."
Christine Ward specializes in providing guidance to early stage clean technology companies. "I mentored more than 80 start-ups in Calgary and helped them raise funds." Ward leads the solar and renewable energy team at Radicle, Canada's leading sustainability consulting company, and as she explained, these are early stage companies , Will "pull Calgary through the energy transition by creating jobs in new industries." Ward uses almost all of her free time to enhance womxn's capabilities and increase the diversity of spaces that are usually very "monotonous." As an outspoken queer woman, Ward says her methods include gaining seats at the table and entering the room, and then pulling underrepresented people into these spaces. "I hope to see more womxn in the leadership and board of directors, breaking statistics," she said. "When I was in my 60s, looking back at my experience in Calgary's green economy and booming technology ecosystem, I knew I had a positive impact."
As early as 2012, Jeremy Clarke founded Simple Life Homes as a general contracting company specializing in sustainable housing. Clark and his team are well aware that simply attaching solar panels to the roof will not improve efficiency or be particularly "green". In 2017, they began to build prefabricated high-performance all-natural houses made of wood products that can insulate carbon and meet Passive House standards—90% more energy efficient than ordinary Canadian houses. In eastern Ontario, the former vice president of the local environmental organization Sustainable Cobourg is known as a clear speaker of the Passive House movement: “Our houses store carbon in construction materials and help drive our carbon footprint down today if We have the opportunity to fight global warming, which is crucial.” Clark’s next goal: expand carbon-conscious housing. "We are actively working to get more design and construction partners to use our system so that we can expand together."
The development of renewable energy in the Canadian Arctic is also facing a series of challenges. As a director of Nunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation (NNC), Nunavut's first 100% Inuit-owned renewable energy developer, Heather Shilton's job is to overcome these obstacles. "The electricity prices paid by Nunavuts are the highest in the country, and the region is currently completely dependent on diesel power delivered from the south," she said. She explained that local off-grid communities cannot have access to clean, affordable and reliable electricity as fairly as people in grid-connected communities. "This is a barrier that I hope to help remove." The 28-year-old had developed locally owned projects in Ontario before moving to Nunavut to support Inuit-owned renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Clean energy projects. Shilton said: "When considering sustainability in Canada, it is important to prioritize and center the voices of indigenous people and those most affected by climate change."
Consumers are under tremendous pressure to make the most sustainable choices, but, as Madison Savilow pointed out, consumers are irresponsible for most global emissions. Scale impact. I hope that consumers can reapply pressure on companies to incorporate carbon storage materials into their products." Alberta Cleantech Entrepreneur and Carbon Upcycling Technologies (a Canadian carbon utilization company that won the Carbon XPrize Award) The chief of staff founded Carbon Upcycling's consumer goods brand Expedition Air. Expedition Air is dedicated to selling products made from captured carbon emissions and has facilitated the startup of more than 5 companies, and the number of companies that rely on captured carbon materials is now increasing. "I hope Expedition Air will become a one-stop shop for consumer-oriented companies to obtain decarbonization solutions and materials."
Aliya Hirji has always loved the environment and social justice, but it took her a while to realize that these two passions are intersecting. This high school student and activist has been involved in the youth climate strike movement and has promoted systemic changes to ensure a safe climate future. In the past year, she has been mobilizing other students and teachers to call on the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) to extract teachers’ retirement savings from fossil fuels (see page 33 for more information). "Our money should no longer be invested in a livable future. We must collectively demand the elimination of climate damage at all levels," she said. Hirji and other activists have successfully promoted OTPP's commitment to achieve net zero by 2050, as well as some temporary goals. She thinks this is a good start, but she knows that there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that these promises are fulfilled.
In Alberta, where Austin Zacharko grew up, sustainability has always been a polarizing topic. "I can see both sides," said Zachaco, a Canadian Metis, although the avid rock climber and backcountry skier are beginning to realize that the status quo no longer protects the province from the effects of climate change. His interest in renewable energy led him to an engineering degree from the University of Alberta, where he co-founded the Indigenous Engineering Students Association. Today, when he is not working as an energy management engineer at Capital Power to support the company's wind, solar, and thermal assets, Zacharko is helping a local food bank realize solar power. He has also served as a volunteer for two national youth sustainability groups, including as the co-director of Canada’s Leading Change Steering Committee. "As people who inherit this world, our voice should play an important role in the decisions we make today, and these decisions will affect the rest of our lives," Zacharko said.
Brianna Brown co-founded Decade Impact, an influential strategy consulting company, to help Canadian companies develop comprehensive strategies to release social and environmental impact. "In 2011, during the Occupy Movement, I started to study political science and economics as an undergraduate. I saw a huge disconnect between the theories taught in the classroom and the movements that took place on the street." Brown was fascinated by the role of business. "It's very influential, but it doesn't seem to involve issues that I care about." Brown went into business to start bridging the gap. She specializes in the B company certification process. In 2019 and 2020, her company Decade Impact is responsible for half of all B company certifications obtained in British Columbia. Brown said, “Small business owners are some of the most innovative and there are Solution-oriented people."
Faith Edem, the change agent, was born in Nigeria, a country rich in non-renewable fuels. "I have a deep understanding of the impact that the energy industry may have on a country's biodiversity and emissions," she said. The University of Toronto’s undergraduate course on corporate social responsibility has changed her worldview: “Frankly speaking, I don’t know that polluters can be held accountable.” Now Edem is a Canadian environmental and climate change policy analyst responsible for formulating national climate and Energy policy to help Canada transition to an inclusive, net-zero carbon economy. "What drives my sustainability work is my commitment to accountability and underrepresented views in the field of sustainable development," said the co-author of the Canadian BIPOC Youth Anthology "Our Climate, Our Story". "When we study global impacts, those who represent the least are often the most affected by climate change."
"I never thought I would be engaged in investment work," Julie Segal said. "I am an environmentalist first." Through her work in impact investing, the 26-year-old Montrealer has so far transferred more than 32 million U.S. dollars to projects with positive social or environmental outcomes. "Each project is important in itself. But these investments are also instructive. They show how our capital market and economic system can promote practical alternatives to the social development we want." During the management of McConnell Solutions Finance Accelerator, Segal explained He is recognized as a youth influence leader for formulating strategies for the fair transition of the foundation's asset portfolio. "I am proud to be able to bring environmental justice views to spaces that are usually overlooked," Siegel explained. Segal also helped establish two community non-profit organizations, established a climate action think tank in Outremont, Montreal, and helped young people participate in sustainable finance issues through the Youth Climate Lab.
Adriana Laurent Seibt, who grew up in Honduras, has witnessed the devastating effects of climate change on the low-income, housingless, black and indigenous people, women and gays in her coastal community La Ceiba. Laurent Seibt said: "After we were hit by two consecutive hurricanes in November 2020, I managed to raise nearly $40,000 to buy food, medical supplies, infant formula, water, clothes and help rebuild my home." "I am right. The love of the community allowed me to participate in the climate justice movement.” After moving to Vancouver, she co-founded the UBC Climate Center, where she mobilized thousands of students to advocate for climate policy solutions and racial justice. The young Black Hondureña also leads UBC’s Indigenous Participation Working Group, is a youth representative of the British Columbia Government’s Climate Solutions Committee, and serves as an advisor to the City of Vancouver’s Climate Justice Charter. "I want young leaders to know that another world is 100% possible," she said.
Since Kris Kolenc started playing Lego, he has developed a keen interest in architecture and the environment. Therefore, it makes sense for the 28-year-old to continue working in the field of green real estate. During his tenure at the Real Estate Association of Canada (REALPAC), he helped more than 120 Canadian commercial real estate companies strengthen their ESG performance-a particularly important task given that buildings account for about 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As the chairman of REALPAC's ESG committee, he also works with the government to help formulate sustainable real estate policies. Kolenc said that while working in the industry can sometimes be challenging, given the resistance to the climate crisis, the demand for sustainability professionals is higher than ever. "The opportunities for sustainability and the need for climate action [never] have been so strong," he said. "Now is a good time to enter the field."
Since the typical service life of roads and bridges can be as long as decades, the way we design and build them can have a huge impact on the environment. Civil engineers Mina Papic and Brad Moore know this: they co-lead the sustainable infrastructure team at Stantec, a design company named one of the most sustainable companies in North America by Corporate Knights. “The decisions we make today will affect the quality of life in future communities and the collective emissions of our children and grandchildren,” said Papic, who is also an advisor to the non-profit organization Greenroads. Their team helps guide green strategies for infrastructure projects, from high-speed rail and roads to marine and wastewater projects. "Making informed decisions to seek to improve the sustainability of our infrastructure will continue to provide benefits for the next few years," Moore said. In the next few years, the two hope to help more and more communities make sustainability an important part of the engineering design and construction process.
* Mina is no longer employed by Stantec. As of October 2021, she is the sustainability project manager of WSP.
It was not until Oriana Cordido De Sola came to Canada from Venezuela at the age of 18 that she was exposed to the idea of starting a business. She left Venezuela because she always wanted to study abroad, and the humanitarian crisis in her home country left young people with few opportunities. After arriving in Canada, she applied the dual passion of entrepreneurship and sustainable development to her work. "No matter which industry you work in, you can always find the best green practices for your company," she said. Since working as a student at Naveco Power in Fredericton in 2017, the 24-year-old girl has helped develop a small 20 MW wind farm. Cordido De Sola also took the lead in installing a large number of rooftop solar panels in New Brunswick.
Ask George Radner why the work he does is important, and he will tell you that a girl named Natalie wrote to the City Councillors of Vancouver, urging them to take climate action. Radner explained that it was her 14th birthday, but instead of celebrating with family and friends, she asked local politicians to help her ensure a safe future on this planet. “Be The Change Earth Alliance provides young people such as Natalie with tools to deal with climate anxiety, as well as the skills and support to take meaningful climate action.” In the past two years, his team has included more than 15,000 high school students, teachers, and Community members provided learning resources to take individual and collective actions against climate change, and they transferred at least 200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the process. Radner offered some warnings to budding young sustainability leaders: "Don't try to do it alone. Find a community of kind people you like to be around."
It was originally a pilot project in a 150 square foot custom container conversion greenhouse. Brandon Hebor used a novel vertical design to design and build an "urban farming unit" that grows vegetables and vegetables less than two kilometers from downtown Toronto. Through his social enterprise Ripple Farms, Hebor grows nearly 3,000 kilograms of food and fish from container farms. He also led a team that used high-tech farms as teaching bases to hold educational seminars for more than 1,000 students. As an advisor to Crop Coach Canada, Hebor works with indigenous groups on Manitoulin Island and community food centers in GTA and other regions to help implement agricultural projects. He has just launched his latest enterprise, Boreal Greens Co., to grow local herbs and vegetables using "controlled environment agriculture". "I think food is the medium through which all people on the earth can connect our physical and mental health and resilience to the earth."
Sophia Yang wears a lot of hats. When she was not a part-time techno DJ, at the age of 25, she was a community organizer, fashion justice activist, equity consultant and entrepreneur. Yang was born in China and moved to Canada at the age of eight. She founded a youth-led non-profit organization called Threading Change, which aims to make fashion more ethical and circular. The organization is guided by what Yang called the six Fs: feminism, a fashionable future without fossil fuels. She said that when she participated in the UN Climate Negotiations (COP25) as a youth representative in 2019, she was inspired by the launch of Threading Change. "I noticed that the only voice on the fashion stage is the company with the most emissions, and there are no representatives from the global South, youth or clothing workers," she said. Since then, Yang has been busy training the next generation of fashion leaders and raising the voice of garment workers around the world.
As the sustainability manager of one of Canada's largest outdoor companies, Sophie Merritt has identified opportunities to influence more than 200 outdoor brands to create system-wide changes throughout the industry. Thanks to Merritt, MEC (formerly Mountain Equipment Co-op) launched an ambitious plan last spring. MEC's internal label and all partner brands have set positive new goals in terms of sustainable materials, fair wages, and reducing waste to achieve recycling. New climate targets are being formulated. "This work is important because... it inspires other companies and consumers to take more sustainable actions," said the 27-year-old ski and surf enthusiast. She said that the daily work of Canadians has pushed their favorite brands to do better. "The pressure you put on the government, the company, and your peers is creating change. I see it every day, so continue to fight for a fair and responsible future for everyone!"