November marks the fifth anniversary of the Bermuda Youth Climate Summit, a ground-breaking initiative that continues to transform how our island’s young people engage with climate action. What began in 2021 under the visionary leadership of former chief executive Karla Lacey, who is serving as the senior adviser this year, has evolved into Bermuda’s premier platform for youth environmental engagement and leadership development.

Over four remarkable years, the summit has welcomed more than 150 young Bermudians annually, bringing together students aged 13 to 22 from across our public and private schools. These gatherings have done far more than educate — they have forged lasting friendships, broken down social barriers and empowered a generation to find their collective voice on the defining issue of their time.

While global headlines continue to chronicle escalating climate impacts — from unprecedented wildfires to intensifying hurricanes and rising sea levels — our YCS participants refuse to be passive observers. They have embraced their role as changemakers, developing initiatives informed by global knowledge while fitting in a Bermuda context. Their collaborative spirit, combined with a focus on peer-led projects to actively address the environmental challenges they are inheriting, earned the Youth Climate Summit the Michael Darling Shield Award for Heritage Education from the Bermuda National Trust, the first non-school entity to be so recognised.

These achievements would not be possible without our extraordinary YCS corporate partners, whom we thank for their steadfast support year after year. Their commitment goes far beyond financial contributions; it represents a shared belief that Bermuda’s youth deserve every opportunity to shape their environmental future.

Our Transformational Founding Partners, Axa XL and HSBC Bermuda, continue to champion young people pursuing systemic solutions. They contribute knowledge, expertise, connections and credibility alongside financial resources, recognising that sustainable change requires comprehensive support. Their dedication demonstrates that meaningful corporate partnership means investing in people, not just programmes.

Aspen Bermuda, Renaissance Re and Deloitte, our Visionary Partners, consistently support endeavours that promote creative and imaginative thinking about environmental challenges. They understand that innovation emerges from empowering young minds to question conventional approaches and develop bold new strategies for climate resilience.

Our Inspire Partners, including Conduit Re, Chubb and Neuberger Berman, recognise that building confidence leads to action. By encouraging young people to see themselves as capable environmental leaders, they help to transform summit participants from concerned observers into engaged advocates and future business leaders who prioritise sustainability.

The deliberate and intentional process of selecting summit partners remains unchanged — each organisation must credibly walk their environmental, social and governance talk. Our young people deserve partners who demonstrate authentic commitment to sustainable practices, not merely good intentions. This standard ensures that summit participants learn from organisations whose values align with their environmental aspirations.

As we approach our fifth summit in November, the ripple effects continue expanding. Former participants and YCS alumni serve as environmental advocates in their schools, communities and workplaces. They are connecting their pursuits in higher education within an environmental sustainability context and maintaining the cross-school friendships that strengthen our island’s social fabric.

The summit also continues connecting participants with local organisations focused on environmental protection, creating opportunities for ongoing collaboration beyond November’s intensive YCS programming. Whether supporting existing plans or launching new projects, our alumni demonstrate that youth engagement creates lasting change.

The climate challenge requires that all generations work together, but young people bring unique urgency and creativity to finding solutions. They understand, perhaps better than anyone, that environmental decisions made today will shape their entire lives. The Bermuda Youth Climate Summit honours this perspective while providing tools, knowledge and networks that transform concern into effective action.

The Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute remains deeply grateful for every partner’s unwavering support, which enables us to maintain the excellence and accessibility of this crucial programme. Their continuing partnership reflects shared recognition that investing in youth development and leadership is not only good corporate citizenship; it’s essential preparation for Bermuda’s sustainable future.

As we celebrate five years of partnership and innovation, we look forward to the summit with excitement and confidence. Our young people are ready to lead, our partners stand ready to support them, and together we are building the environmental leadership that Bermuda needs for the challenges ahead.

• Traci Burgess is the chief executive of the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. The Fifth Annual Youth Climate Summit will be held from November 17 to 22. The event prepares and empowers students to address climate change on a local level, and is the foundation for a year of youth-led sustainability, conservation and climate justice initiatives. For more information, visitwww.YCSBda.com