ISO ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Youth Leadership Group
Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders in ISO TC 207
YLG 2026 Applications are 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 2026 - 2027
The important role and active engagement of youth in environmental action has been underscored in international agreements, including the UAE Consensus Agreement that was a key product of COP28. Catalyzing a cultural change that engages all ISO stakeholders around diversity and inclusivity and encourages broad participation in ISO standards and governance by underrepresented groups (including the next generation of experts) is a priority articulated in the ISO Strategy 2030. The ISO Environmental Management committee’s Strategic Business Plan 2023-2030 mirrors this priority with a commitment of ensuring diversity, including geographic, gender and generational diversity.
The engagement of young leaders in the international standards system, however, goes beyond the need to ensure diversity. 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 of change. Engaging the next generation of standards experts in the advancement of standards for environmental and climate action is more than an ethical obligation. Engaging youth is a pre-requisite for success.
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, stakeholder engagement and policy-making that enable them to effectively design and participate 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
ISO Code of Ethics
As individuals engaged in activities within the ISO system, we adhere to the following principles:
1. Comply with legal and statutory obligations
2. Perform and act in good faith, consistent with the purpose, policies and principles of the organization
3. Behave ethically
4. Promote and enable all voices to be heard
5. Engage constructively in ISO activities
6. Declare actual and potential conflicts of interest and manage them appropriately
7. Protect confidential information
8. Protect ISO assets
9. Avoid any form of bribery or corruption
10. Escalate and resolve disputes and uphold agreed resolution.
Youth Leadership Group Workplan for 2026-2027 Cycle
Understanding Context
Environmental challenges today are shaping the future of how organizations operate. Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, resource scarcity, and growing public expectations are influencing decisions across every sector — from business and government to universities, municipalities, and non-profits.
At the same time, stakeholders increasingly expect organizations to move beyond statements of commitment and demonstrate real, measurable environmental performance. This means showing not only what they aim to achieve, but how they are managing environmental risks, complying with regulations, improving performance, and embedding sustainability into everyday operations.
This is where Environmental Management Systems (EMS) become essential.
ISO 14001:2026, Environmental management systems – Requirements with guidance for use is the world’s leading standard for environmental management systems. It provides a structure framework that helps organizations:
● understand their environmental impacts;
● identify environmental risks and opportunities;
● set clear and measurable objectives;
● improve environmental performance over time; and
● demonstrate accountability and transparency.
The basis for the approach underlying environmental management systems is the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model. This model provides an iterative process by which organizations can achieve continual improvement.
The plan phase involves establishing environmental objectives and the processes needed to deliver those objectives in accordance with the organization’s environmental policy. The do phase involves implementation of the processes as planned. The check phase involves monitoring and measuring processes. The act phase involves taking actions to continually improve based on areas of improvement identified as part of the monitoring and measuring mechanisms.
In the 2026–2027 cycle, the Youth Leadership Group (YLG) will focus on deepening their understanding of environmental management systems. Participants will learn how to develop an environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001:2026, including:
● identifying environmental risks and opportunities;
● developing processes to manage identified risks and take advantage of opportunities;
● measure and monitor progress; and
● communicate and evaluate environmental performance effectively.
An EMS is not a one-time assignment or checklist. It is a living framework that evolves as environmental conditions, technologies, and expectations change. By working with ISO 14001:2026, participants will gain hands-on experience with internationally recognized environmental governance tools and develop skills that are directly relevant to careers in sustainability, environmental management, policy, engineering, business and beyond.
Through this program, young leaders will move from understanding environmental issues in theory to designing structured solutions in practice.
Monthly Workplan
At the beginning of the program, participants will select an organization for which they will develop an EMS. Throughout the year, students will undertake the steps to design and implement an EMS.
Themes at a glance
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The Role of Standards in Environmental Governance
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to explain the structure and purpose of ISO 14001 and describe how Environmental Management Systems support structured and accountable environmental governance within organizations.
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ISO 14001 in Legislation and Policy
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to analyze the relationship between environmental legislation and voluntary standards, and explain how ISO 14001 is referenced and applied within policy and regulatory frameworks in different jurisdictions.
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Understanding Organizational Context
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to conduct a structured analysis of organizational context, identify relevant interested parties and compliance obligations, and define a clear and appropriate scope for an Environmental Management System.
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Leadership and Environmental Policy
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to explain the role of top management in an Environmental Management System and draft an Environmental Policy aligned with ISO 14001 requirements.
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Environmental Aspects, Impacts, and Risk-Based Thinking
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to identify environmental aspects and impacts, evaluate their significance using risk-based criteria, and apply lifecycle thinking within the planning phase of an Environmental Management System.
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Environmental Objectives and Action Planning
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to develop measurable environmental objectives and design structured action plans that align with identified environmental aspects, risks, and policy commitments.
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Operational Control and Lifecycle Considerations
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to design operational controls, incorporate lifecycle considerations, and outline emergency preparedness processes within an Environmental Management System.
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Digital tools to support EMS implementation
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to evaluate how AI and digital tools can support the design, implementation, monitoring, and continual improvement of an Environmental Management System, while recognizing associated governance and ethical considerations.
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Monitoring, Measuring and Internal Audit
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to design monitoring and measurement frameworks, outline internal audit processes, and explain how performance evaluation supports continual improvement within an Environmental Management System.
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Nonconformity, Corrective Action, and Continual Improvement
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to explain how organizations identify and address environmental nonconformities, apply root cause analysis, and integrate corrective action and continual improvement into an Environmental Management System.
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Effective Communication and Transparency
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to design internal and external communication processes that support transparency, accountability, and effective implementation of an Environmental Management System.
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Professional Development and Leadership
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to reflect on their leadership style, analyze organizational dynamics, and apply professional skills that support effective implementation of Environmental Management Systems.
The 2026 ISO YLG Cohort
We are now looking for the second cohort of the Youth Leadership Group (YLG)! Building on the success of our previous cohorts, 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.
Eligibility
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.
How to apply?
1.- Learn about us. Resources to check out include:
2.- 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 impacts.
3.- Submit your application. Submit your original piece together with your application by no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on April 13, 2026.
Selection Process
1.- 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.
2.- Application Assessment: Eligible candidates will be evaluated based on their application materials, considering the following criteria:
Innovation & Leadership: Demonstrated proactive engagement in sustainability and environment-related topics.
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.
3.- Interview stage: The highest-ranked candidates from the application assessment will be invited for an interview within the first two weeks of May 2026.
Successful applicants will be notified by the end of May 2026.
Program Details
The 2026 YLG Cohort will run from June 2026 to May 2027 with a special focus on this year’s more relevant than ever topic:
“Environmental Management Systems”
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 | 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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