Research Summary: “Every professional is a climate professional”: a framework for climate responsibility in practice

A framework published in Frontiers in Education conceptualises professionals across diverse fields such as law, health, education, the built environment, and media as a vital yet underutilised class of climate actors. Grounded in specialised knowledge, institutional authority, and public credibility, these professionals possess the structural capacity to translate sustainability science into systemic operational change.

Why it matters

Mobilising mainstream professionals broadens climate responsibility beyond dedicated sustainability teams into foundational operational and governance domains. By leveraging professional accreditation and institutional credibility, organisations can embed sustainability science directly into everyday practice across industries. This systemic perspective identifies workforce socialisation and professional ethics as central levers for scaling climate mitigation and adaptation.

Key insights

• Professionals in health, law, education, the built environment, and media hold specialised knowledge, institutional authority, and public trust that make them distinct climate actors.
• A generalisable framework models how professional expertise, ethical values, and institutional authority can drive systemic sustainability transformation.
• Professionals possess a unique capacity to operationalise sustainability science, reshape organisational systems, and coordinate climate interventions within their respective sectors.
• The professional role is socially constructed, formed initially within higher education and reinforced through accreditation and institutional mechanisms.

Source

Frontiers in Education — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.2013555