With the continued degradation of Earth’s natural resources and increasing social pressures, our global society is on a destructive trajectory. To avert societal collapse, it is crucial to halt this unsustainable path through strategic sustainable development. Educative spaces that cultivate sustainability leaders are essential in guiding this transition. Youth Empowerment Programs for Sustainability (YEPS) can play a pivotal role by fostering youth sustainability leaders. However, this field lacks a unified definition of sustainability and a coherent approach to empower youth to take action for sustainability.  This research provides a contemporary analysis of how YEPS can enhance their effectiveness as a strategic tool for sustainable development, through analysing how YEPS foster sustainability youth leaders. The Hummingbird Framework was developed to represent the necessary conditions for youth empowerment and sustainability competencies. Using this framework, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 program directors, designers and/or facilitators and 7 youth alumni from short-term, immersive, sustainability- focused youth programs within Europe. The findings, analysed through the Hummingbird Framework show that YEPS represent a critical avenue for fostering sustainability leaders through their participatory and creative approach to sustainability, equipping young individuals with the tools and mindset necessary to drive the sustainability transition. Nevertheless, there is room for improvement to align the field of YEPS with strategic sustainable development.