Cell biology for a sustainable future – a call to action from early-career scientists

As a community of early-career researchers in cell biology, biochemistry and public health, we stand at a pivotal moment regarding both our careers and the fate of our planet. The climate crisis demands urgent, transformative action from the scientific community, yet current research priorities and structures often impede meaningful contributions from cell biologists to this global challenge. As early-career researchers, we present two calls to action: (1) we urge funders, institutions and policymakers to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary and globally inclusive environmental research through equitable international partnerships that prioritise researchers from vulnerable regions; (2) we call for expanded opportunities for early-career cell biologists beyond traditional research career paths, including structured pathways for engagement in policy, science communication and decision-making processes within organisations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations. This requires institutional reforms that support alternative career pathways, funding mechanisms that value diverse contributions beyond publications, and meaningful - rather than tokenistic - inclusion of young cell biologists, particularly from the Global South, in climate-related decision-making structures.