Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S), Masdar’s global initiative to empower the next generation of sustainability leaders, is inviting applications to register for its year-long 2026 programmes equipping youth with skills, mentorship and networks to lead the clean energy transformation.
Y4S will empower youth to become sustainability leaders through its two core programmes: Future Sustainability Leaders, a global programme for university students and young professionals aged 19-35 years; and Sustainability Ambassadors, which is open to UAE-based senior high school students, aged 15-18 years. Through immersive forums, global engagements, mentorship, and innovation challenges, Y4S equips participants with the skills, networks, and experiences needed to drive real-world impact in sustainability and the green economy.
Registration for the 2026 cohort is open until 30 November 2025. Since its inception in 2016, Y4S has engaged thousands of young people globally, with the initiative receiving nearly 1,000 applications for 120 places last year, reflecting the growing demand for programmes that prepare youth to drive sustainability solutions.
Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand & Strategic Initiatives at Masdar, said: “Youth 4 Sustainability plays a vital role in advancing the UAE’s vision for youth empowerment and climate leadership. As the world accelerates its clean energy transformation, it is more critical than ever to provide young people with the skills, knowledge, and platforms they need to deliver real solutions for a sustainable future. Through Y4S, we are cultivating a global community of young innovators and helping them to turn their passion for sustainability into making a tangible impact. I look forward to welcoming our 2026 cohort into the Y4S community.”
Participants will gain hands-on experience through engagements with leading UAE companies, government stakeholders, policy groups, and think tanks. Guided by Y4S mentors, including clean energy pioneers, tech innovators, and sustainability entrepreneurs, programme members will gain industry insight and build lasting connections. The programme’s emphasis on peer-to-peer learning ensures that every participant is part of a community committed to driving change.
This year’s registration theme, ‘Write the Next Chapter’, invites youth to envision themselves as the next generation of sustainability changemakers. Y4S remains committed to inclusive leadership and youth-led climate action, with a strong focus on gender diversity and representation.
Applications for the two programmes are open at www.y4s.ae, with limited places available.
