ISO ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Youth Leadership Group
Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders in ISO TC 207
YLG 2025 Applications Now OPEN!
Chair of the ISO Environmental Management Committee (ISO/TC 207)
Zakiah Kassam
Young people bring fresh perspectives, new tools, and the agility to work in ways that were unimaginable when these systems were first built. What they need from us is not teaching, but space—space to experiment, space to lead, and space to drive change.
Introducing YLG
What is the challenge?
The ISO Environmental Management Youth Leadership Group (YLG) was established to bridge the gap between young professionals and the world of international standards. Despite our ability to adapt to a rapidly evolving world, youth representation in global discussions and decision-making spaces remains limited. It is often argued that young professionals lack the experience or capacity to lead, yet we bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions that are essential for progress. YLG aims to challenge this narrative by empowering young voices, fostering meaningful participation, and demonstrating that we are not just the future—we are the present, ready to shape the standards that will define a sustainable world.
YLG as a solution
The ISO Youth Leadership Group is an initiative of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) technical committee on Environmental Management (ISO/TC 207). Throughout this program, participants will gain the knowledge and skills required to apply concepts embedded in various ISO standards and to navigate complex decision making that integrates technical, financial and policy considerations.
YLG was created as a solution to the lack of youth representation in international standardization. In May 2024, its inaugural cohort brought together 40 young professionals from +30 countries to actively engage in shaping the future of global standards. Focused on addressing the challenges of a just and equitable energy transition, participants had access to expert-led discussions, skill-building workshops, and hands-on assignments designed to bridge the gap between young professionals and decision-making spaces.
Through a competitive selection process, four participants were chosen to represent YLG at the ISO Annual Meeting in Cartagena, Colombia, while two others joined the ISO team at the Standards Pavilion during COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan—demonstrating that young professionals are both prepared and capable of contributing to critical global discussions.
Beyond these opportunities, YLG members have also been empowered to share their insights through thought leadership and research articles on ISO’s official LinkedIn page, reinforcing the role of young voices in shaping the standards that drive sustainability and innovation.
Youth Leadership Group 2025 Objectives
The ISO Environmental Management committee’s Strategic Business Plan 2023-2030 mirrors the broader ISO priority of ensuring diversity including geographic, gender, and generational diversity.
The objectives of the ISO Environmental Management committee Youth Leadership Group are:
Exposure: to expose young people to the international standards system and its role in advancing climate and sustainability action;
Skills development: to provide young people with skills in environmental management, finance, communications and policy-making that enable them to engage effectively in environmental initiatives; and
Empowerment: to empower young people to analyze and produce materials that support the activities of the ISO Environmental Management committee and policymakers in their countries.
Benefits of Joining the Youth Leadership Group
The 2025 ISO YLG Cohort
We are now looking for the second cohort of the Youth Leadership Group (YLG)! Building on the success of our first cohort, we seek a new group of innovative, proactive, and passionate young leaders committed to sustainability and climate action. We aim to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and experiences to create a dynamic and impactful YLG. Our goal is to assemble a team with a strong mix of linguistic, geographic, gender, and professional diversity, ensuring that the group is a powerful driver of change.
As part of this new cohort, you will be able to participate in:
Mentorship and Learning: Engage with leading experts and learn how to develop and apply ISO environmental standards
Advance Climate Action: Contribute to global climate action through the advancement of international environmental standards
International Networking: Be part of an international network of high performance youth all advancing environmental action
If you are eager to shape the future of environmental progress through standardization and contribute your unique expertise to global challenges, we encourage you to apply!
All nationalities are welcome to apply!
You must be between the ages of 18 and 25 at the time of application.
You must be currently enrolled in a post-secondary educational institution or have graduated within the past 2 years.
Proficient English language skills.
Time commitment: We recognize that availability of time fluctuates based on school, work and family life. We are looking for individuals that can commit to approximately 10 hours per week but recognize that flexibility will be required on how participants engage in YLG.
Eligibility
How to apply?
Learn about us. Resources to check out include:
Express yourself. As an optional part of the application, show us through your original writing, art, a video, a quantitative model or any other media why international standards are important to managing environmental and climate impacts.
Submit your application. Submit your original piece together with your application by no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on April 13, 2025 at the following link: Apply Now!
Selection Process
Eligibility Screening: All submitted applications will undergo an initial administrative review to ensure that candidates meet the basic eligibility criteria. Only eligible applicants will proceed to the next stage.
Application Assessment: Eligible candidates will be evaluated based on their application materials, considering the following criteria:
Innovation & Leadership: Demonstrated proactive engagement in sustainability and climate action.
Diversity & Relevance of Experience: Background in different fields contributing to environmental progress through standardization, projects, campaigns, initiatives and others.
Commitment & Motivation: Strength of motivation as expressed in the application.
Interview stage: The highest-ranked candidates from the application assessment will be invited for an interview within the last two weeks of April 2025.
Successful applicants will be notified by the end of April 2025.
The 2025 YLG Cohort will run from May 2025 to May 2026 with a special focus on this year’s more relevant than ever topic:
Program Details
“Adaptation to Climate Change”
Please note that this is a voluntary program with no tuition fees.
YLG Testimonies
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Zeynep Çagla Sözen | Türkiye
CITY PLANNER
“YLG gave me a global perspective on sustainability and leadership. Through the program, I had the opportunity to gain both theoretical and practical experience in environmental management standards and youth leadership.”
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Aboma Garoma | Ethiopia
PHARMACIST
“ISO-YLG is a great opportunity for networking with global leaders and broadening one's understanding of ongoing environmental health issues.”
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![Ayşe Korkmaz]()
Ayşe Korkmaz | Türkiye
ENERGY SYSTEMS ENGINEER
“YLG strengthened my understanding of sustainability and energy policies while enhancing my teamwork and public speaking skills. As an ISO Youth Delegate at COP29, I contributed to discussions on equity in the energy transition."
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Tinotenda O Hodzi | Zimbabwe
STUDENT AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
"The YLG broadened my horizons and showed me how vast the world of opportunities is. But most importantly, it wasn’t just about opportunities; it made me realize that my potential is limitless and taught me how to make meaningful contributions."
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![Claudia Vargas | Spain]()
Claudia Vargas | Spain
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS STUDENT
"As an ISO YLG member, I’ve grown as a leader, collaborated with experts, and explored standardization and sustainability. Writing 'Principles Matter' enriched my perspective and deepened my understanding of global standards."
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Augustine Nosike | Nigeria
HSE SPECIALIST & BANKER
“As a member of the ISO Environmental Technical committee youth leadership group and a facilitator at the ISO annual meeting 2024, I have witnessed firsthand the power/importance of youth engagement in shaping the future of international standards.”
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Chantell Msiza | Zimbabwe
FOOD SCIENTIST
“This program boosted my confidence and gave me the opportunity to speak on both international and national platforms. It also deepened my understanding of international standards, which are not strict laws but fair and equitable guidelines created by experts to improve our lives.“
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Mavzuna Azizova | Tajikistan
ECOHYDROLOGIST
“My experience with YLG was not just about learning and refining my skills in standardization; it was also about engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences, fostering meaningful interactions, and broadening my perspective on different environmental contexts.”
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Andrian Achieng | Kenya
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING ST
“Being part of YLG has been transformative. Engaging with passionate youth worldwide and exploring standards in energy and environmental management has been both enlightening and enjoyable. This journey has broadened my professional horizons and strengthened my commitment to sustainability.”
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Waqar Ali | Pakistan
STATISTICIAN
"My time with the ISO YLG has been an incredible journey of learning and collaboration. I gained valuable insights into international standards while enhancing my leadership and analytical skills. This experience has truly broadened my perspective and connected me with inspiring professionals worldwide."
ISO Environmental Management Youth Leadership Group
“Rapid technological advancement such as new AI platforms together with the speed and proficiency with which youth are adopting them makes young people powerful agents for change. Engaging the next generation of standards experts in the advancement of standards for environmental and climate action is more than an ethical obligation. It is a pre-pre-requisite for success.”
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