The New Guardians of Sustainability

In recent years, a growing number of innovators have emerged to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change and social inequality. TIME for Kids has profiled six visionaries who are harnessing technology and creativity to create a more sustainable and equitable world.

Claudiu Leverenz is one such pioneer. His Munevo DRIVE wheelchair system uses head movements to control the chair, providing greater independence for people with mobility impairments. Leverenz’s breakthrough came while he was studying at the Technical University of Munich, where he noticed that the traditional wheelchair industry was slow to adopt new technologies. He founded his startup after graduating and brought Munevo DRIVE to market in 2019.

The product has been met with enthusiasm, but Leverenz is just getting started – he hopes to bring it to a global audience this year. While Munevo DRIVE represents an exciting innovation in accessibility, it’s not the only solution being developed by the next generation of changemakers. Neel Tamhane, for example, is working on creating community-owned solar power grids in rural areas of the developing world.

Tamhane’s project at SPACE 10 in Delhi aims to pool energy and use blockchain technology to facilitate trading among villagers. This not only provides clean energy but also empowers local communities by creating a new economic model. As Tamhane notes, “The future of utilities is going to be decentralized and has to be democratized.”

Sophia Hamblin Wang is another innovator making waves in the sustainability space. Her company, Mineral Carbonation International, is working on decarbonizing high-polluting industries by using carbon dioxide to create building materials. This approach effectively turns a pollutant into a valuable resource.

Wang’s team began their pilot phase in 2013 and is now scouting out new locations for further expansion. What sets these innovators apart from others is not just their technical expertise but also their commitment to social justice. Saieshan Govinder, for example, has placed over 30,000 young people in jobs since launching the Youth Employment Service in South Africa in 2018.

Govinder’s own story is one of overcoming adversity – his parents were denied access to university under apartheid, and he’s dedicated himself to making a difference. As he says, “I push myself to make them proud of what they didn’t have the opportunity to achieve.” The question remains: will these innovators be able to scale their solutions quickly enough to address the scale of the problems they’re tackling?

While it’s impossible to predict the outcome, one thing is certain – the world needs more people like Claudiu Leverenz, Neel Tamhane, Sophia Hamblin Wang, and Saieshan Govinder. As they navigate the complex landscape of sustainability and social change, it becomes clear that creating a new generation of leaders driven by purpose and responsibility is crucial to addressing these challenges.