Early-career experts essential for planetary sustainability

Abstract

Early-career experts can play a fundamental role in achievingplanetary sustainability by bridging generational divides anddeveloping novel solutions to complex problems. We arguethat intergenerational partnerships and interdisciplinarycollaboration among early-career experts will enableemerging sustainability leaders to contribute fully to asustainable future. We review 16 international,interdisciplinary, and sustainability-focused early-careercapacity building programs. We conclude that such programsare vital to developing sustainability leaders of the future andthat decision-making for sustainability is likely to be bestserved by strong institutional cultures that promoteintergenerational learning and involvement.