Empowering sustainability: bridging science, community, and youth for a brighter future

Abstract Background Sustainability science has become a crucial aspect of interdisciplinary research aimed at finding practical solutions and driving lasting change. This article examines the challenges facing sustainability science to move beyond the analysis of problems within interconnected systems and critically evaluate the interplay of social, political, and technological factors in the application of knowledge to action. Results The study highlights the influence of innovation implemented by companies on their sustainability performance, the establishment of innovations that positively affect sustainability performance, and analyzes the youth and local community perspectives on scientific innovations for a sustainable future. Conclusions The main conclusion is that sustainable development needs to focus on four areas of research: the impact of values ​​on research and decisions; community perspectives on sustainability; fostering socio-technical progress; and promoting learning for sustainable development. By decoding science, positive change can be achieved through the implementation of strategies such as transparency, understandability, and openness to scientific knowledge.