Sustainability Education, Youth and Innovation: Engaging the Next Generation in Innovating the Future - Concise Contributions

The conference proceeding aims to provide a global platform for researchers, academics, and practitioners to engage in discussions and share insights on sustainability education, the role of youth in driving change, and the power of innovation in building a sustainable future.

The primary focus of this year's conference was to explore how sustainability education can empower individuals and communities, equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and values to drive transformative action towards a sustainable and resilient world. Special emphasis was placed on the critical role of youth as key agents of change and the innovative solutions they bring to the table in addressing pressing environmental and social challenges.

In the context of this conference, sustainability education served as a catalyst for fostering awareness, critical thinking, and responsible decision-making. It enabled individuals to integrate sustainable practices into daily life, promote interdisciplinary learning, and encouraged collaboration across sectors.

Youth-led initiatives and innovation are central to shaping sustainable solutions for the future. Young entrepreneurs, researchers, and changemakers are at the forefront of developing groundbreaking ideas that challenge traditional approaches, advocate for policy reforms, and implement community-driven solutions. Innovation in sustainability encompasses technological advancements, digital transformation, and creative problem-solving approaches that accelerate progress toward environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Objectives of this publication:

• To offer diverse avenues for knowledge sharing, including scientific research presentations, case studies, conceptual frameworks, and policy-oriented papers.
• To delver into the strategies and practices that empower organizations, educators, and young leaders to make a lasting impact on sustainability, innovation, and urban resilience.
• To highlight the role of education in fostering sustainability literacy and its integration into training programs and community initiatives.

Through this conference, we seek to bridge the gap between education, youth engagement, and innovative practices, ultimately fostering a global movement toward sustainability-driven transformation.

Dr. Jacinta Dsilva is a renowned sustainability researcher and strategist with over 20 years of academic and industry experience. She has held several positions such as Director of Research, Living Lab and International Partnerships, Assistant Professor and Visiting Scholar. Her expertise lies in the intersection of sustainability and consumer behavior, and she has worked at prestigious universities in the UAE, India, and China. With a strong focus on research, Dr. Dsilva has published numerous books, book chapters, and academic papers on topics such as Circular Economy, Green Technologies, Industry 4.0, Strategic Corporate Governance and Sustainability. Currently, she is the Co-Founder and CEO of InLabs Group working on sustainability and Gamification.

She has led research teams, established collaborative partnerships with high-level stakeholders, and developed frameworks for conducting research in circular economy and climate change. Driven by her commitment to sustainability, she has established a research center and living lab to facilitate impactful research and knowledge dissemination while working at SEE Institute. She has also mentored sustainability led startups and supported them with her product development.

She has been on academic advisory boards advising universities and schools on embedding sustainability in their curricula, demonstrating her commitment to shaping future leaders with a sustainability mindset. She has led two successful SEE Global Sustainability Summits, one of a kind high level Summit attended by over 1200 academics, start-ups, Industry and government officials across the world each year. She has also worked with National Dialogues organized by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and played a significant role in organising important discussions during COP28 alongside the Ministry of Education.