Climate Leaders Toast to a Hopeful Future at TIME100 Impact Dinner at COP31
They spoke about the clean energy transition and the importance of bringing youth into the climate fight.
On Thursday, Nov. 10, during the annual U.N. climate conference known as COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, climate leaders gathered for a TIME100 Impact Dinner. At the event, leaders shared their perspectives on the challenges and successes within the clean energy transition and the importance of engaging youth in the climate fight.
Five honorees spoke about what gave them hope for the future. Michael Sheldrick, co-founder of Global Citizen, shared the story of two young men in South Africa who are training to be solar technicians. These young men see the solar boom as an opportunity for boundless ambition, but also recognize the sadness of coal-fired power stations shutting down. Sheldrick hopes Global Citizen can scale up renewables while ensuring no one is left behind.
Ani Dasgupta, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, noted numerous solutions to climate change being implemented worldwide, ranging from democratizing solar power in Pakistan to Kenyan farmers growing macadamia trees in degraded land. He urged the room to bring young leaders into the climate fight and support their efforts in finding and amplifying solutions.
Vanessa Hauc, Telemundo journalist and 2026 TIME100 Climate honoree, recounted her experiences reporting on the climate crisis across the globe. Despite witnessing devastating impacts, she highlighted stories of resilience and innovation in communities and Indigenous peoples. She emphasized that hope is something we build every day, and the future of our planet depends on our actions today.
Matthew Tilleard, CEO of CrossBoundary Energy, reflected on how the clean energy transition differs from past energy transitions. He explained that solar and battery technologies are becoming increasingly efficient and decentralized, which can improve energy security and accessibility. Tilleard believes technology-based energy systems can make energy production more sovereign.
Finally, Xiye Bastida, a 2023 TIME100 Next honoree, reminded attendees of the critical role of the COP conferences in addressing the climate crisis. She called on the global community to build hope, make choices every day to protect the planet, and support young leaders in the fight for a sustainable future.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
