Amid corporate downsizing and reorganizations that have impacted virtually every economic sector, early-career employees in every job function are taking on more responsibility than ever. The sustainability profession is far from immune.
The young professionals recognized in the 2026 Trellis 30 Under 30 cohort are rising to those elevated expectations, driving programs and initiatives that are reshaping how their employers are integrating emissions reduction strategies and other environmental considerations into day-to-day operational procedures. They work in every sector from aviation and hospitality to technology and logistics to consumer products and financial services.
Front-line impact
Take mechanical engineer Emma Galarza, 29, who spearheads flight path optimization and airplane payload management projects that will cut Delta Air Lines’ fuel consumption by an estimated 75 million gallons annually by the end of this year.
Or Jessica Mi, 26, who leads carbon accounting and cross-functional decarbonization initiatives at design software firm Autodesk. Her analysis of emissions from cloud computing and artificial intelligence services uncovered $2 million in potential efficiency savings.
Or Yao Yao, 26, an industrial engineer with semiconductor company Microchip Technology. She created the manufacturer’s first life-cycle assessment models and built an internal LCA calculator that cut analysis times from six months to just eight weeks.
Selection process
A team of Trellis climate journalists and experts evaluated 30 under 30 applicants based on their demonstrated sustainability leadership and the measurable, quantifiable impact of their work to address climate change.
Honorees were required to have done the climate work while employed at a company or organization (not while a student) in the last two years. The honorees are 30 or younger as of Oct. 1, 2026. They are listed here alphabetically by last name.
Read through and click on all 30 profiles to get insights into how these early-career professionals are delivering results at Amazon, JLL, Solventum and more.
