Generation 2050: 25 Years Out
The Generation 2050: 25 Years Out report highlights the strong commitment of young professionals to tackling climate change and energy inequality - though many remain doubtful about the sector’s current ability to meet these challenges.
In early 2025, members of the Energy Institute’s international Young Professionals Network took part in a survey exploring their motivations for joining the sector, their hopes for its future, and the skills they see as vital for tomorrow’s energy leaders.
Drawing on these survey responses and enriched by insights from Energy Institute Fellows worldwide, the report offers a fresh perspective on the future energy workforce. It fosters a meaningful exchange between today’s leaders and the next generation poised to shape the industry’s future.
Click here to download the reportThe Challenge of Our Time
The EI premiered a specially produced documentary at COP26 in Glasgow, chronicling a 500-mile road trip across Scotland’s future energy landscape by a team of young Scottish energy professionals passionate about playing a practical role in combatting climate change.
Transported by ferry, train and Tesla, the group visited some of the most innovative, essential and dramatic energy projects, from biomass in Shetland and tidal in Orkney, to carbon capture and storage off Aberdeen and wind energy at Whitelee. It was a journey of discovery. Through what they saw and heard interviewing fellow young professionals and senior leaders on site, they arrived in Glasgow with findings they believed can help the UK and global community on the urgent race to net zero.
The project is part of the EI’s Generation 2050 initiative and its partners, with special thanks to Worley and all of the companies visited in the film.
Click here to download the reportGeneration 2050 Manifesto
Climate change is an intergenerational emergency that requires urgent action. It affects us at local, national and global levels as we consider the challenge of adapting our habits as a world community. This is compounded by the need to meet growing global energy demand, particularly for many millions still living without adequate access to energy.
We are Generation 2050. Young professionals embarking on their careers in energy today, and we will be the industry’s leaders in 2050. We will inherit a sector that will be judged on how it has responded, so it’s crucial that our knowledge is utilised, and our concerns are heard.
Through this Manifesto, we are reverse mentoring our political and industrial leaders; giving a collective voice to tomorrow’s energy leaders and providing fresh views on the skills we will need to meet global net zero targets.
As we approach critical decisions in the lead up to COP26 and for the recovery from the global pandemic, there hasn’t been a more important time for the voices of Generation 2050 to be heard.
Sinead Obeng AMEI, Chair, Energy Institute Young Professionals Council
Join the debate on social media
Please help us amplify the voice of Generation 2050. Share the link to the manifesto and your own comments on social media – whether that’s Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook. Tag the Energy Institute @energyinstitute and use #Generation2050.
Generation 2050 in the news
Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, November 2020
Time is running out - the energy sector’s Generation 2050 speak up
Future Power Technology, February 2021
Generation 2050 Manifesto: hearing from young voices within energy
Energy Voice, November 2021
‘We are as passionate about the climate challenge as Extinction Rebellion’ – Young energy professionals to premiere film at COP26
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