"You don't need to be a policymaker or a scientist to really do something and be active in your community. So, take action," said Pamela EA

Moderated by The World Around’s Beatrice Galilee, the panel brought together designer and educator Bruce Mau, Obel Foundation Executive Director Jesper Eis Eriksen, and Young Climate Prize alum Pamela Elizarrarás Acitores.

"Most designers don't fully appreciate how powerful they are, that they're living and working in that fulcrum moment when we decide how we're going to live," said Bruce Mau.

"One of the things that I've found absolutely awe-inspiring about all three years of Young Climate Prize cohorts is that they never point fingers. They don't point fingers at the generations that have made all this mess," said Jesper Eis Eriksen

The event brought together designers, climate journalists, philanthropists, and activists of all ages, creating a space to exchange ideas and deepen the conversation around climate, design, and the built environment.

Moving between mentorship, philanthropy, climate literacy and the responsibilities of designers, the discussion challenged the idea that meaningful support is measured only in money or metrics. Instead, the speakers explored the value of trust, relationships, networks, capacity building, and simply making space for young people to lead.

Pamela Elizarrarás Acitores with Valentin Abend of Climate Words and Fatima-Zahrae Tarib.