There is no single path to achieving breakthroughs. Sometimes they stem from cutting-edge scientific research that spawns game-changing technologies. In other cases, a breakthrough emerges from an innovative business model, policy framework, or grassroots movement that reshapes incentives and mindsets. Breakthroughs can manifest as a revolutionary product, transformative legislation, or even a profound cultural shift. They take years to happen and can be full of stops and starts—many of which may look like nothing more than failures. They are imperfect, but ultimately and importantly, they can change the world.
The journey to a breakthrough often starts with a person or team taking a chance to try something new, something most think impossible. Armed with a belief in their own ambition and in the audacity of their idea, these visionaries begin an effort that could result in major progress. In the climate space, take the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, or the documentary An Inconvenient Truth in 2006. Consider the Beyond Coal Campaign, the Paris and Kigali agreements, or Urgenda Foundation v. The State of the Netherlands.
These are the kinds of efforts we focus on: high-ambition, high-gain ideas with breakthrough potential to drive large-scale system changes, not incremental work centered on near-term success. This means, if wildly successful, they could significantly reduce global annual greenhouse gas emissions, affect entire industries or regions of the world, and materially change the lives of tens of millions of people within ten years of launch.
#LETSBREAKTHROUGH
ERIEL TCHEKWIE DERANGER Pioneer a globally coordinated effort to elevate Indigenous-led solutions
ALEX DOUKAS Hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for cleanup costs to protect public health
KIMIKO HIRATA Shift the energy narrative in Japan, a major emitter, towards decarbonization
TERO MUSTONEN Establish restoration hubs across the Arctic and boreal regions to mitigate climate change
JANE KLEEB Forge alliances to make clean energy a path to growth in rural America
GITA SYAHRANI Support Indonesia’s transformation into a bioeconomy powerhouse
ISABEL CAVELIER ADARVE Build a culture of care for the planet through narratives and immersive experiences
JAMES IRUNGU MWANGI Spur conditions for economic growth in Africa without high-emission models
SANJIV GOPAL, BRIKESH SINGH, VINUTA GOPAL Energize climate action at the state level to boost India’s national targets
KATHRIN GUTMANN Mobilize movements to drive Europe’s transition to 100% renewable power by 2035
SARA JANE AHMED Drive green investments to climate-vulnerable nations through tailored plans
DENISE FAIRCHILD Build movements to reshape consumption habits in the US to tackle Scope 3 emissions
NICOLE RYCROFT Accelerate the commercial production of alternatives to wood-based products
MOHAMED ADOW Guide Africa away from fossil fuel dependency through high-level engagements
TZEPORAH BERMAN Establish a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that ends fossil fuel expansion globally
SEBASTIÁN KIND Unlock the renewable energy potential of developing countries through smart financing
NGUY THI KHANH Support the public and private sectors to meet Vietnam’s net zero goals
ARIEF RABIK Revitalize land and local livelihoods through bamboo agroforestry
TESSA KHAN Pave the way for the UK to be the first major nation to phase out fossil fuels
BRUCE NILLES Accelerate building electrification in the US to phase out gas
YANG FUQIANG Create conditions to cap China’s oil consumption and achieve peak emissions
MAY MEI Mainstream sustainable food choices to transform China’s food system and reduce waste
JOHN HEPBURN End insurance for fossil fuel projects to fund a cleaner future
