One of the most rewarding aspects of my work with the Environmental Center of San Diego has been watching young people discover their capacity to lead.
Over the years, I have come to believe that environmental leadership is not something people are born with. It is nurtured through opportunity, mentorship, education, and community. When young people are given the chance to connect with experienced advocates, scientists, Tribal leaders, policymakers, and community organizers, something remarkable happens. They begin to see themselves as part of the solution. They move from asking, “What can be done?” to asking, “How can I help?” That shift transforms concern into action and interest into commitment.
People often ask what inspires someone to become an environmental leader. In my experience, it usually begins with a connection—to a place, a community, or a cause. It may be a favorite beach, a local canyon, a hiking trail, or a concern about climate change and the future. Whatever the starting point, leadership grows when people realize they have both the ability and the responsibility to make a difference.
Today’s young leaders face significant challenges. They are inheriting a world grappling with climate change, biodiversity loss, habitat loss, water scarcity, and increasing pressures on both natural and human communities. They are navigating a rapidly changing social and political landscape where environmental issues can feel overwhelming. Many carry a deep sense of urgency, knowing that the decisions made today will shape the world they inherit tomorrow.
At the same time, I am continually impressed by their resilience and determination. Young people today are informed, thoughtful, and eager to collaborate. They understand that environmental challenges do not exist in isolation and that meaningful solutions require cooperation across generations, disciplines, and communities.
Today’s young environmental leaders are inheriting a world of compounding crises, from climate change and biodiversity loss to water scarcity and political uncertainty, yet they are approaching these challenges with a resilience, collaborative spirit, and cross-disciplinary understanding that give experienced advocates genuine reason for hope. Photo courtesy of the Environmental Center of San Diego.
This is one of the reasons the Environmental Leadership Summit is so important. Since 2017, the Summit has brought together environmental organizations, public agencies, Tribal representatives, students, and community members to learn from one another and build the relationships needed to address complex environmental issues. The conversations that take place during the Summit often spark new partnerships, new ideas, and new opportunities for engagement.
What gives me hope after every Summit is seeing those connections take root. I see students engaging directly with experts and advocates. I see future careers inspired by a single conversation. I see young people gaining confidence in their own voices and recognizing that they have a role to play in shaping the future.
The environmental movement has always depended on people who are willing to step forward and lead. Our responsibility is to ensure that the next generation has the knowledge, opportunities, and support they need to do so. When we invest in young leaders, we are investing in the future of our communities, our environment, and our quality of life.
At its heart, the Environmental Center of San Diego exists to bring people together because lasting environmental progress depends on collaboration, shared learning, and collective action.
That investment gives me every reason to be hopeful.
