In 2025, Capgemini — in partnership with UNICEF — launched an innovative initiative that uses “agentic AI” to help young people explore green-learning paths and sustainable careers. This came through their 2025 global challenge, where developer teams worldwide worked to build an AI-powered assistant that connects climate-concerned youth with relevant education, training and job opportunities in sustainability. The winning solution — named the “Green Career Assistant” — was designed to convert interest in climate action into real, actionable steps for young people.
The push for this initiative comes in response to a widespread problem: although a majority of young people globally feel concerned about climate change, far fewer believe they actually have the right “green skills” to contribute effectively. According to a survey by Capgemini Research Institute and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited programme, while 61% of youth believe green skills could unlock future career opportunities, only 44% feel adequately equipped for today’s green-jobs market. This reveals a significant gap between climate concern and real-world capability — a gap Capgemini and UNICEF aim to bridge.
The Green Career Assistant leverages advanced AI technologies (including cloud infrastructure and language models) to map out personalized pathways for each user — matching their background, interests and aspirations with training resources, green jobs, and career options. It combines data-wrangling, skill-job mapping, empathetic dialogue, and human-in-the-loop oversight to provide trustworthy, explainable guidance. This human + AI hybrid design ensures ethical recommendations and helps reduce risk of misleading or irrelevant advice.
For youth worldwide — and especially in regions with fewer resources — this initiative could transform climate anxiety into opportunity. By democratizing access to green education and career guidance, the project helps young people take concrete steps to contribute to sustainability, build livelihoods, and shape a greener future. For organizations and policymakers, it demonstrates how AI and social purpose can combine to support large-scale, youth-driven climate action.
