Climate leaders at the TIME100 Impact Dinner during COP31 today emphasized the need to accelerate clean energy while ensuring no one is left behind.
The event, held in Antalya, Turkey, recognized five climate pioneers who stressed the importance of youth engagement and equitable solutions.
Michael Sheldrick, co-founder of Global Citizen, highlighted the human impact of the transition by sharing stories of young solar technicians and a coal plant worker who accepts the need for change.
Ani Dasgupta, president of the World Resources Institute, pointed to real-world solutions such as solar power in Pakistan and sustainable macadamia farming in Kenya as seeds of a new economy.
Journalist Vanessa Hauc described the climate crisis as one of the greatest challenges, but also noted examples of resilience and innovation she has witnessed in the Amazon, the Andes, and Florida's coral reefs.
Matthew Tilleard, CEO of CrossBoundary Energy, outlined three keys to the clean energy shift: rapidly falling costs, decentralization, and enhanced energy security.
Xiye Bastida, co-founder of the Re-Earth Initiative, reminded attendees that the transformation is already underway, grounded in Indigenous stewardship and intergenerational responsibility.