The Next Generation Thought Leaders Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development (NextG Conference 2021) was organized under the direction of Prof. Kwasi Appeaning Addo, Director of the Institute with support from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) ably represented by Prof. Chris Gordon of the University of Ghana. The NextG Conference forms part of the efforts of IESS to continually ensure that its students are exposed to international opportunities and cross-fertilization of ideas and scholarships. The Conference sought to create a platform particularly for the next generation thinkers and academics (young people) in the environment and sustainability fields to discuss and share ideas, research findings, and innovative models on key aspects bordering on environment and sustainability. Innovative concepts, decision support tools, and prototype technologies for climate resilience and waste management among others can be presented at the conferences such as this.

While the COVID-19 global pandemic made it impossible for a face-to-face international conference, Technology ensured we were able to hold the Conference online (via the Zoom App). The 2-day, six-themed Conference (28 - 29 July, 2021) featured:

• A talk entitled ‘‘The future of Environmental Management in Ghana’’
• A keynote address on the topic: “Data Science in Support of Sustainable Development”
• Business Concept Ideas, Oral and Poster presentations on environmental management and sustainable development
• A debate featuring “next generation thinkers” on the motion: “The use of plastics as packaging material should be banned in Ghana”
• A Plenary highlighting key presentations and the way forward

See details in the attached Report