Young people can be most effective leaders in the fight against climate change. But to scale their solutions, they need support from experienced professionals, policymakers, and investors, writes Florian Hoffmann, founder of the DO School.
Half of the emission reductions needed by 2050 must come from innovations that are not yet commercially available, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated.
Many of these innovations are most-needed in countries that are bearing the brunt of climate change. Access to food, clean air, water, and healthy oceans are increasingly under threat. The human and productive cost of repeated and exhausting climate disasters will soon become too large to count.
As climate change accelerates, its consequences are being felt disproportionately by young people worldwide, with the young on the frontline of the climate crisis.
Many live in regions most prone to extreme weather events. The economic fallout of climate change affects what is most important for those starting out in life: secure and stable employment, education, and health – yet displacement, job losses, and social instability are increasingly defining the reality of young people worldwide.
Yet, their vulnerability makes the young among the most effective leaders in the fight against climate change, due to their passion, innovation, and advocacy to drive meaningful action. There are young people the world over who are innovating on local and global climate-disaster solutions. These people deeply understand local climate problems, having lived and grown up beside them. Without urgent financial intervention, though, their resilience risks being undercut by the sheer scale of the crisis they are expected to combat.
Missed opportunity
In 2024, only 7% of global climate investment reached economically disadvantaged areas, despite these communities bearing the brunt of climate impacts. Young entrepreneurs, who are often at the forefront of climate innovation, face significant financial barriers, including limited credit histories and perceived lack of experience, making it difficult to secure funding.
At the same time, the venture capital market has contracted, with fund formation dropping by 62% from its peak in 2022 to 2023. This increasingly selective investment landscape disproportionately affects young founders, who often lack the established networks needed to navigate funding opportunities.
Climate finance mechanisms are failing to reach young leaders at the scale required, often disbursing funds in amounts too small to sustain impactful, long-term projects. This systemic underfunding creates a vicious cycle where youth-led initiatives must continuously chase scarce financial resources rather than focusing on scaling solutions.
Governments, financial institutions, and multilateral organisations need to establish mechanisms that prioritise youth access to climate finance, ensuring funding is provided at scale and with long-term support. Simplifying application processes, providing technical assistance, and creating dedicated youth climate funds can all play a role in enabling young people to drive the transformative change required.
Backing young leaders
At beVisioneers, a fellowship helping young environmental entrepreneurs develop planet-positive projects to combat the climate crisis all over the word, we have seen firsthand how transformative investment in young people can be.
65% of our fellows had no prior entrepreneurial experience. For many, this fellowship is their only opportunity to pursue their innovative ideas, as traditional career pathways often require advanced qualifications, years of experience, and access to networks – barriers that many young innovators cannot overcome. Despite these challenges, 53% of our fellows receive follow-on funding, proving that when given a chance, young people can deliver impactful and scalable solutions.
For instance, Thabo Blessing Mngomezulu, a 30-year-old entrepreneur from South Africa, is addressing his country’s energy crisis through his startup, Kasi Gas.
South Africa’s national grid is notoriously unstable, with scheduled blackouts leaving households and businesses in the dark for up to 11 hours a day. Thanks to his participation in ‘beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship’, Mngomezulu is scaling a business that produces biogas and bioslurry for rural communities, creating sustainable, blackout-beating fuel, replacing polluting fuels like wood and coal while improving soil health with organic fertilisers.
Beyond funding
Only few young entrepreneurs are relevant for VC funding at the beginning of their journeys. Some are busy bootstrapping and benefit more from business angels, or from mentors that help engage potential customers rather than conventional investors.
Impact investors and venture philanthropy are also important players in the mix to create the innovation we need. And, crucially, our fellows are not doing it alone. One of the core principles of our programme is fostering intergenerational collaboration.
Young innovators bring energy, creativity, and an intimate understanding of the challenges their communities face. But to scale their solutions and drive systemic change, they need the support of experienced professionals, policymakers, and investors. This shared agency is the cornerstone of sustainable impact.
The climate crisis demands bold action, and young innovators are answering the call. But they can’t do it alone. It’s time for governments, businesses, and individuals to step up and invest in the next generation of planet-positive leaders. By funding their ideas, providing mentorship, and creating inclusive ecosystems, we have a chance at building a more sustainable future, and developing the innovations that can cure the climate crisis.
Florian Hoffmann is a German social entrepreneur, author, investor and founder of The DO School which offers fellowships to empower young people to address local and global challenges, including the beVisioneers programme.
