candidates we look for
The greatest predictor of whether an idea will succeed or fail is who’s leading it. A Climate Breakthrough Awardee boasts a rare combination of traits: a social innovator with the demonstrated ability to effect change, an ambitious strategist thinking at immense scale, and a visionary with an uncommon audacity paired with humility and compassion.
That’s why our rigorous sourcing and vetting process is a critical ingredient of the program. We leverage our global network of partners and rotating scouts with extensive connections on the ground to look for and nominate candidates for the program. Our selection process begins even before initial contact with the candidate and continues through multiple interviews and in-depth reference checks.
First, we source candidates through our networks and scouts
Second, we screen and vet candidates to assess suitability
We invite candidates to interviews on leadership and idea exploration
Finally, we recommend candidates to our Board for selection
IDeas we look for
We focus on breakthrough-oriented work in policy, economic, and social transformation—not incremental work centered on near-term success. Our awardees pursue high-ambition, high-gain initiatives that, if wildly successful, 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. Our guiding principle is simple: “Is this idea possible?” rather than “Are we confident it will succeed?”
Priorities
We maintain a wide aperture in the selection for the program. However, in keeping with our founding vision and commitment to breakthroughs, we prioritize candidates and ideas with significant added value.
They address critical gaps
Perhaps there’s a missing piece in the current landscape of solutions. Leaders from underrepresented regions or sectors, underexplored strategies, or innovative tactics could fill these gaps.
They challenge conventions
We’re highly interested in candidates who can disrupt the status quo in how we develop climate solutions, and in concepts that push beyond the limitations of well-established approaches.
They scale early wins
We’re also drawn to candidates who are poised to build on promising work and are primed for new funding to expand their scope or ambition.