Five Climate Leaders Share Hopes at COP31 Dinner in Türkiye
Honorees from Global Citizen, WRI, and Re-Earth Initiative discussed renewable energy costs, youth engagement, and the human impact of the energy transition.
By Khalid Khalil ·
Five climate leaders gathered in Antalya, Türkiye, on November 10 to discuss the state of the global energy transition during the annual U.N. climate conference, COP31. The event, a dinner hosted by TIME100, brought together executives and activists who shared specific examples of progress and challenges in the clean energy sector. The group included Michael Sheldrick of Global Citizen, Ani Dasgupta of the World Resources Institute, journalist Vanessa Hauc, Matthew Tilleard of CrossBoundary Energy, and Xiye Bastida of the Re-Earth Initiative.
Sheldrick highlighted the dual nature of the transition by contrasting two workers in South Africa. He described young solar technicians in Touws River who view the industry as a source of ambition. In contrast, he spoke of Bennie, a supervisor at an aging coal-fired power station, who worried about the fate of long-term coal workers. Sheldrick noted that Global Citizen launched the Perth Declaration in late October to expand electricity access to over four million homes and add three gigawatts of renewable capacity.
Ani Dasgupta pointed to specific solutions emerging in different regions, such as solar power adoption in Pakistan and macadamia farming on degraded land in Kenya. He argued that these examples form the seed of a new economy. Dasgupta urged the attendees to actively support young leaders by finding, mentoring, and funding them to help build this economic shift.
Vanessa Hauc discussed the physical evidence of climate change she has observed while reporting from the Amazon, the Andes, and Florida. She described fires erasing ecosystems and glaciers retreating with severe consequences. Despite these challenges, she emphasized that resilience and innovation exist among scientists, Indigenous communities, and young people who continue the fight.
Matthew Tilleard explained why the current energy shift differs from previous fuel transitions. He noted that solar panels made today are 98 percent cheaper than those produced 25 years ago. Tilleard argued that decentralized storage systems reduce transmission costs and increase energy sovereignty, a key advantage over traditional fuel-based systems.
Xiye Bastida closed the evening by referencing a meeting with U.N. Secretary General António Guterres earlier that day. Guterres told a group of youth leaders that their influence shaped his bold approach to climate policy. Bastida emphasized the importance of intergenerational dialogue and Indigenous practices of stewardship as a framework for the ongoing transformation.
