How a Former Youth Activist is Driving Change in Corporate Sustainability

Youth climate activists are entering the workforce, bringing their passion and expertise to drive the adoption of stronger climate policies and ambitious decarbonization targets.

Today’s youth, including prominent figures like Greta Thunberg, Xiye Bastida, and Daniel Koto Dagnon, along with countless everyday individuals, have united in their resolve to drive meaningful change for the planet. Their collective voice reflects a generation deeply concerned about climate change, with World Economic Forum data showing that 70% of young people are very worried about its impacts.

Youth climate activists, in particular, have played a crucial role in capturing the attention of governments and corporations, serving as a powerful external force advocating for climate policy reform.

Now, as these young individuals transition into the workforce, they are driving change from within—collaborating with leadership to improve sustainability efforts that not only enhance company reputations but also deliver significant environmental benefits.

Charles Orgbon III, a Manager within EY's Climate Change & Sustainability Services Practice, is one such example of a youth climate activist who has turned his passion for the environment into a career, working to advance sustainability within the corporate world.

With an inspiring journey that began at age 12 as the founder of the grassroots organization Greening Forward and progressed through consulting roles at two of the Big 4 firms, Deloitte and EY, Green Builder Media’s CEO, Sara Gutterman, sat down with Charles Orgbon to explore his career and gather insights for young professionals aspiring to follow in his footsteps.

Orgbon shared, “I was 12 years old when I noticed my school's littering problem and created a website called Greening Forward to address some of these environmental issues. Greening Forward evolved into an organization that not only existed online but also made an impact on the ground by working with young people.”

Greening Forward serves as a grant-making platform to support the efforts of young climate activists. It also organizes conferences to connect youth climate activists with peers and enables older youth leaders to mentor the next generation of activists.

Reflecting on his journey, Orgbon noted, “Through my work in youth climate organizing and leading Greening Forward, I got to interface with corporate sustainability professionals, and that’s what ultimately shaped the next stage of my path.”

Orgbon’s impactful work in corporate sustainability earned him recognition as one of GreenBiz’s 30 Under 30.

To learn more about Orgbon’s journey or gain tips on understanding what motivates the next generation of environmentalists, watch the full video here.

Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsors: Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corporation takes sustainability seriously, in both their products and their operations. Learn more about building and buying homes that are more affordable and less resource intensive.