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 support our awardees to develop, launch, and scale: breakthrough-oriented work in policy, economic, and social transformation—not incremental work centered on near-term success. Our awardees launch 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.

#LETSBREAKTHROUGH

ERIEL TCHEKWIE DERANGER
Advance climate solutions driven by Indigenous knowledge and leadership at the global stage

ALEX DOUKAS
Hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for cleanup costs and protect public health

KIMIKO HIRATA
Transform the energy narrative and mainstream decarbonization in Japan, a major emitter

TERO MUSTONEN
Establish new restoration hubs across the Arctic and boreal regions to mitigate climate change and rejuvenate biodiversity

JANE KLEEB
Forge innovative alliances to position clean energy as a catalyst for economic growth in rural America

GITA SYAHRANI
Integrate bioeconomy in Indonesia, a major emitter, to transition toward low-carbon solutions

ISABEL CAVELIER ADARVE
Inspire a global culture of environmental stewardship through immersive experiences and narratives

JAMES IRUNGU MWANGI
Pioneer low-emission growth strategies that unlock Africa’s vast economic potential

SANJIV GOPAL, BRIKESH SINGH, VINUTA GOPAL Catalyze ambitious climate action at the state level to boost India’s national targets

KATHRIN GUTMANN
Lead movements to ensure Europe transitions fully to renewable power by 2035 and set a global standard

SARA JANE AHMED
Develop transformative economic plans to drive green investments to climate-vulnerable nations

DENISE FAIRCHILD
Reshape consumption patterns (Scope 3 emissions) in the US through strategic social and corporate campaigns

NICOLE RYCROFT
Accelerate the commercial production of sustainable alternatives to wood-based products to keep forests standing

MOHAMED ADOW
Guide Africa towards energy independence and economic resilience through high-level policy engagements

TZEPORAH BERMAN
Pioneer a groundbreaking global treaty to end the proliferation of fossil fuels

SEBASTIÁN KIND
Mobilize renewable energy funding into developing nations through advanced financing approaches

NGUY THI KHANH
Support strategies for public and private sectors to meet Vietnam’s net zero goals

ARIEF RABIK
Expand bamboo agroforestry to revitalize degraded land and uplift communities with sustainable livelihoods

TESSA KHAN
Make the UK the world’s first major nation to phase out fossil fuels through strategic and progressive efforts

BRUCE NILLES
Phase out gas and mainstream the electrification of new buildings across the US

YANG FUQIANG
Spur the conditions for China to cap its oil consumption and achieve peak emissions

MAY MEI
Revolutionize China’s food system by integrating sustainable food choices and minimizing waste at scale

JOHN HEPBURN
Spearhead a global shift in the insurance industry to stop underwriting the expansion of the oil and gas industry