4th Annual World Environment Day Conference Unites Youth Innovators Across Five Nations

Global students showcase climate solutions, celebrate winning projects, and mark the launch of Project 2050

White Plains, NY – June 4, 2025 – Future-minded students, educators, and sustainability leaders from China, Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador and Westchester County gathered tonight for the 4th Annual World Environment Day Conference, a hybrid event hosted by OneWorld and Westchester Green County (WGC USA). “Nothing is more powerful than the passion and creativity of young people working together for the planet,” said Joe Carvin, OneWorld founder and co-host of the conference alongside Allison Hague. “Their ideas give us confidence that we can reach true global Super Abundance by 2050.”

Highlights & Acknowledgments

• Executive Leadership – WGC USA Executive Committee President Austin Omin and Vice-President Anthony Peter welcomed participants and reiterated the organization’s commitment to hands-on sustainability education.
  
  
• Special Thanks – The organizing team extends deep gratitude to Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, Assistant Director, Office of Energy Conservation & Sustainability, and Peter McCartt for their unwavering support.
  
  
• In Presentations – Inspiring climate-action projects were presented by:
  
  
  • Austin Omin and Honora Wheelan (USA)
    
    
  • Karolina Bento de Lima & Isadora de Oliveira Fonseca, Universidade Federal Farroupilha (Brazil), mentored by Prof. Stéphane Rodrigues Dias
    
    
  • Students of Greening Jinling Campus (China)
    
    
  • Students of Wu Jin Qing Ying (China)
    
    
  • Anthony Peter, Lincoln High School (USA)
    
    
  • Nehla Sauthoff, Pleasantville High School (USA)
    
    
  • Nigel Presume & Mateo Del Rio Lanse, Iona Prep (USA)
    
    
  • Educators of Departamento de Investigación e Innovación Educativa (Mexico)
    
    
  • Colin Weingarten, OCRA Program, Mamaroneck High School (USA)
    
    
  • Noah Rabinowitz, Long Island (USA)
    
    
  • Carter Medved, Edgemont High School, in partnership with Sustainable Westchester (USA)
    
    
  • Ron Kamen, Westchester Business Council / EarthKind Energy (USA)

We were honored to welcome Ms. Debbie Friedman, representing Westchester County, who personally presented the certificates to the students, underscoring the county’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders.

The conference culminated in an awards ceremony honoring the schools that showed the most significant commitment to the 100 Schools Challenge, recognizing their wide-ranging, student-driven initiatives that advanced sustainability across their communities.

1. Escuela Secundaria 4 de Acapulco – Mexico – First Place – Victor Nambo
2. John Jay High School – USA – Second Place – Austin Omin
3. Jinling Primary School – China  – Third Place – Madame LI

Each winning team will receive seed funding and mentorship to scale its project over the next academic year.

Book Launch: Project 2050

The conference also served as the informal launch of One Worlder Joe Carvin’s new book, Project 2050, a call to action outlining pathways to a world of super-abundance through exponential technologies and global cooperation.