22-05-2025
Capgemini: disconnect between Egyptian youth's climate concerns and green job readiness
FILE - Group of Thanaweya Amma students revising before the exam
Cairo – May 22, 2025: A new global report by the Capgemini Research Institute and UNICEF's Generation Unlimited highlights a concerning gap between the optimism of Egyptian youth regarding climate action and their readiness to pursue green careers.
While 71% of young Egyptians believe that developing green skills will open up new career opportunities and 63% remain hopeful that climate change can still be addressed, only 24% feel equipped with the necessary green skills to succeed in today's workforce.
The findings also point to a significant disconnect between the climate concerns of Egyptian youth and their preparedness for green jobs.
Despite 70% expressing worry about the future impact of climate change, and 37% showing interest in pursuing a green job, the lack of confidence in their skills highlights a critical gap in climate preparedness and employability.
The report, titled Youth Perspectives on Climate: Preparing for a Sustainable Future, explores the views of 16–24-year-olds worldwide on climate anxiety, green career prospects, and the role of education, business, and government in empowering youth. Across the board, young people are eager to take part in climate action, but many lack the technical competencies required to enter green careers.
Globally, six in ten youth see green skills as a gateway to better jobs, but just 44% believe they currently have those skills. The situation is even more challenging in certain regions of the Global South, where access to green education and training is more limited. The report also highlights a rural-urban divide, with youth in urban and suburban areas reporting higher concern and greater access to green opportunities than those in rural communities.
Despite growing eco-anxiety — with 70% of youth worldwide fearing the effects of climate change on their futures — optimism remains. Most young people believe there is still time to solve the crisis, and over half are interested in aligning their careers with environmental values.
Commenting on the report's findings, Sarika Naik, Group Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Capgemini, stated 'We need to help young people turn their passion into impact by investing in green skills. This report shows how critical it is that business, governments, and education leaders work together to bridge the skills gap, empower youth voices, and create pathways to meaningful green careers.'
Dr. Kevin Frey, CEO of Generation Unlimited at UNICEF, added 'Green Rising, with its ecosystem of public and private sector partners, is supporting young people with the skills and opportunities they need to take climate action, start green companies, access green jobs and power green solutions.'
The report calls for urgent action to integrate green education into national curricula, expand access to training, and align employment strategies with climate goals. It recommends stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors to co-develop green career pathways and to embed youth leadership into climate policy and corporate sustainability strategies.
