Enterprise for Youth’s 2024 Climate Career Summit builds on the foundation of the previous two years, empowering youth to discover careers in the green space. Industry leaders from a variety of professions were chosen as speakers and introduced themselves in a roundtable discussion format where they shared their experiences with environmental justice, green initiatives, and advocating for sustainability.
Additionally, the speakers joined separate, smaller groups to allow the youth interns to ask questions directly to the speaker they wanted to learn more about. This year’s speakers included: Chris Busch, Director of Environmental Initiatives at Apple; Finn Does, Co-Chair of the Bay Area Youth Climate Summit; Martha Guzman, Regional Administrator at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Michelle Lim, Order Fulfillment and Supply Chain Sustainability & Program Management Office Manager at Agilent; Roy Parado, Field Sales and Marketing at Plenty; Eliane Rendon, Head of the Sustainable and Protected Agriculture Program at Technological University of the South of the State of Morelos in Mexico, and Yuri Sadiki-Torres, Green For All National Organizer at Dream.org.
Each breakout session was facilitated by an Enterprise for Youth Program Assistant, a youth leader, who asked previously submitted questions from the youth. In Chris Busch’s room, 130 of the 320 attendees were eager to learn about his experience in the green space and Apple’s vision toward a cleaner future; while the remaining attendees selected one of the additional breakout sessions. Busch laid out Apple’s plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, noting that they have already reduced carbon emissions by 58%, bringing them closer to their goal of 75%. Since 2018, all Apple offices, retail stores, and even data centers have been powered entirely by renewable energy. Busch demonstrates that sustainable practices can coexist with and even enhance successful business practices, as seen in Apple successfully growing revenue whilst reducing emissions.
Chris Busch, Director of Environmental Initiatives at Apple
Busch’s passion for environmental initiatives stems from his educational background in economics and experience working for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When asked about starting a career in the environmental sector, Busch advised youth to:
“Be intentional about what you want to do… find what gives you energy.”
Environmental careers are on the rise and attracting individuals passionate about improving our planet, but they don’t require a linear career path. Summit speaker Roy Parado spent over a decade in the automotive industry before transitioning into the environmental field. He currently works as a Field and Sales Marketer at Plenty. Parado initially took a one-time job assisting Plenty with their new office. However, his positive impact left such a strong impression that they offered him a full-time position, leading him to discover his passion for the environment.
Plenty is an indoor vertical farm based in the Bay Area. Crops grown by Plenty use less land and water, and are pesticide-free which means they can be eaten unwashed according to them! Plenty’s goal is to provide fresh and nutritious food by reducing the natural resources required for farming and growing crops in challenging environments, such as city centers and deserts.
Although Parado didn’t initially foresee this career, his commitment to the environmental sector is unquestionable. “I am proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks,” explained Parado. Pursuing a new career is never too late as long as your passion is there, and especially in a growing field such as the environmental sector, opportunity is plentiful.
Roy Parado, Field and Sales Marketing at Plenty
Demand for green skills is only increasing year over year as companies and agencies attempt to tackle the climate crisis. Each speaker comes from a different background and works in vastly different companies, yet they are all united in working towards a common goal. Between 2022 and 2023 alone, there was an increase of 22.4% in job postings that require at least one green skill, and by 2030 an estimated 30 million jobs could be created in the clean energy sector.
“I loved that there were different people from different backgrounds and ages. It really gave us so many different perspectives to hear about, which was lovely.”
Kaya Buckner, Climate Career Corps intern at Alemany Farms, summer 2024
Data provided by speaker Michelle Lim, Order Fulfillment and Supply Chain & Program Management at Agilent
Enterprise for Youth understands the importance of climate careers and has been a champion in preparing youth for future careers in this field. Over 800 climate-focused internships have been provided to youth since the launch of the Climate Career Corps in 2022 in addition to hundreds more in the forty years prior to the program’s launch. The Climate Career Corps is a multi-year program that prepares youth for the workplace while developing their green skills through education, work experience, and mentorship. Each speaker demonstrates that we can all make an impact on the climate crisis, whether it’s through protecting public health like Martha Guzman in government, driving corporate sustainability efforts like Michelle Lim, raising awareness of green campaigns like Yuri Sadiki Torres, developing agricultural strategies in academia like Eliane Rendon, or advocating for youth involvement like Finn Does.
“I enjoyed how we got to see the different ways of Earth being saved.”
Cody Chen, Career Experience intern at Secfi, summer 2024
The inspiring and powerful stories from the various speakers highlight the immense potential of the next generation. The climate crisis can only be solved with climate careers and investment in green skills development and education to support the future of our planet.
Enterprise for Youth wants to thank all the speakers, staff, program assistants, and the youth for making this wonderful event possible!
By Zizo Ezzat, Intern, Enterprise for Youth