Why sustainability starts with learning?
In April 2025, Suvi Co-Founder of Learnsy, attended the ChangeNOW conference in Paris which is one of the largest gatherings focused on solutions for the planet. It brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from around the world, all working towards a sustainable future.
A clear message resonated throughout the event on the discussions we listened: education and skills development are central to enabling real, systemic change. Here are some key reflections from the discussions, and why companies have a crucial role in accelerating learning for sustainability.
Access to education
Creating a sustainable future starts with broad access to education. If individuals are to take part in the transition, they must first be equipped with the right knowledge and skills. Access to sustainability learning cannot be limited by geography, role, or seniority. Democratizing knowledge is fundamental. Without widespread access to education, we risk leaving large groups behind during a critical period of change.
Sustainability education is non-negotiable
Sustainability as a topic is becoming a baseline competency across industries. Companies that fail to prioritize sustainability learning may find themselves struggling to adapt to regulatory shifts, investor expectations, and changing consumer demands. The starting point is awareness, but it must quickly evolve into developing practical, actionable skills that enable employees to drive sustainable practices within their organizations.
Beyond technology
The ChangeNOW conference highlighted impressive technological innovations aimed at addressing environmental challenges. However, technology alone is not enough. Inclusion, participation, and cultural transformation are essential components that must accompany technical solutions. Transitions are complex and often encounter resistance. Without building trust, shared understanding, and collective action, even the best innovations may fail to deliver lasting impact. Education and collaboration are the keys to ensuring that the transition is just and inclusive.
Integrating sustainability to curriculum
Sustainability must be integrated systematically into educational curricula at all levels. It should not be confined to elective courses or treated as an add-on. Embedding sustainability deeply into the core of education programs is essential.
At the conference, it was encouraging to hear how many business schools have introduced mandatory sustainability courses. Yet challenges remain: it is not enough to teach sustainability in one module while traditional courses continue to reinforce outdated models of overconsumption or short-termism.
Curriculum reform requires not only adding new content but reassessing which existing skills and mindsets are still relevant and which must be unlearned. Business schools have a unique opportunity to lead this change. By reshaping their programs, they can prepare future leaders to drive sustainable business strategies across all sectors.
Equipping everyone for the transition
While preparing students for the future is vital, it is equally important to recognize that today’s employees are already in positions to create change. Businesses cannot wait for a new generation to emerge; they must actively support their current teams in acquiring the skills needed to navigate and lead the transition. Skills development must be interdisciplinary, combining skills related to:
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Core Knowledge: Systems thinking, sustainability literacy, transition management
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Hard Skills: Project management, impact measurement, technical expertise
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Soft Skills: Such as collaboration, critical thinking, communication, adaptability
Technical depth and broader system understanding are equally necessary. An engineer, for instance, must not only master physics but also understand how their work fits into broader environmental and social systems. Similarly, a project manager must combine traditional management skills with the ability to integrate sustainability objectives into project design and delivery. Knowledge gaps must be actively identified and addressed. It is the responsibility of organizations to provide opportunities for employees to develop these competencies.
Collaboration over competition
One theme at ChangeNOW was the importance of cross-sector collaboration. No single organization can address the magnitude of the sustainability challenge alone. Competing companies must find ways to work together, sharing knowledge, tools, and best practices to accelerate collective impact.
People are the drivers of sustainable change
Developing necessary skills across the workforce is not just a learning initiative, it is a strategic investment in the resilience and relevance of organizations in a rapidly changing world.
ChangeNOW served as a reminder that while technology provides tools, it is people, equipped with the right knowledge, skills, and mindsets, who will ultimately drive the transition.
Now is the time for companies to place learning and education at the center of their sustainability strategies and empower every employee to be part of the solution.
Thank you ChangeNOW for the fantastic event with meaningful discussions and encounters.
