More than 13,600 young adults from across the world have applied for a chance to join the 2025 cohort of the United People Global (UPG) Sustainability Leadership Programme, it has emerged.
The development, the organisation said, reflects the growing interest among youth in leading grassroots action for a more sustainable and equitable future.
The UPG Sustainability Leadership initiative, regarded as the world’s largest free sustainability leadership training, equips participants with practical knowledge and skills to launch local projects that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to UPG in a statement on Sunday by Precious Chinweani, Sustainability Leader at the organisation and an advocate for Positive Change, the programme is open to young people aged 18 to 35 and is designed to empower them as citizen leaders driving environmental, social, and economic impact in their communities.
Chinweani said the programme is a nine-week virtual training that combines theory with hands-on learning, adding that from the 2024 cohort alone, 1,030 young leaders from over 100 countries were trained and certified.
She said many have since gone on to launch initiatives in waste management, renewable energy advocacy, inclusive education, climate adaptation, and public health.
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Since its inception in 2019, UPG Sustainability Leaders have directly trained more than 86,000 citizens globally on sustainability practices and community resilience strategies.
Each year, the statement revealed, a select group of participants receives additional, fully funded in-person training at Hurricane Island, USA, an experience designed to deepen their leadership skills and foster global collaboration.
She said the programme is made possible through partnerships with organisations and individuals, including noted author and philanthropist Rosamund Zander, whose contributions have helped keep the programme accessible to participants regardless of their financial background.
The training helps participants connect global sustainability goals with local realities. They were taught not just to raise awareness but to take real, measurable action, Chinweani said.
The initiative, she added, is administered by the United People Global Foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland, and has continued to attract a growing network of changemakers seeking to make a meaningful difference through action, not just advocacy.