Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim is an Indigenous Peoples activist from Chad and a leading voice for climate resilience. She integrates Indigenous Peoples knowledge with modern science to prevent conflict and protect ecosystems. She is a UN SDG Advocate and winner of the Pritzker Environmental Genius Award.

Paul Polman is a business leader and sustainability advocate. As CEO of Unilever (2009–2019), he proved that business can thrive through purpose. He now works globally to accelerate action on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Juan Manuel Santos was President of Colombia (2010–2018) and Nobel Peace Laureate for leading peace negotiations with the FARC. He significantly expanded Colombia’s protected areas and advanced progressive climate policies.

Xiye Bastida is an Indigenous Peoples climate activist from the Otomi-Toltec community in Mexico. She co-founded the Re-Earth Initiative and has spoken at global summits including the Biden Climate Summit and COP26. Her work champions climate justice, youth leadership, and just transition.

Ralph Chami is a financial economist and co-founder of Blue Green Future and Rebalance Earth. After 25 years at the IMF, he pioneered “Science-Based Finance℠” to value natural capital and promote nature-positive economies. His work has been featured widely, from TED to National Geographic.

Wade Davis is a writer, anthropologist, and former National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence. Author of 25 books, he has documented Indigenous Peoples cultures and ecosystems across the globe. He is recognized as a defender of cultural and biological diversity.

Sylvia Earle is an oceanographer, explorer, and conservationist known as “Her Deepness.” She has led groundbreaking deep-sea research and founded Mission Blue to protect marine ecosystems. She is a National Geographic Explorer at Large and one of the world’s most celebrated ocean advocates.

Farwiza Farhan is an Indonesian conservationist safeguarding the Leuser Ecosystem, the last place where tigers, orangutans, elephants, and rhinos coexist in the wild. As founder of HAkA, she has led legal victories against deforestation and destructive projects.

Christiana Figueres is a Costa Rican diplomat and recognized leader on climate change. As UNFCCC Executive Secretary (2010–2016), she oversaw the delivery of the historic Paris Agreement. She is co-founder of Global Optimism, podcaster, and author.

Naoko Ishii is a sustainability leader and economist. Formerly CEO of the Global Environment Facility, she now directs the Center for Global Commons at the University of Tokyo. Her work mobilizes academia, policy, and business for planetary stewardship.

Hiro Mizuno is a leader in sustainable finance and long-term investment. He was CIO of Japan’s $1.5 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund and a UN Special Envoy on Innovative Finance. He continues to advance sustainability in global markets.

Sunita Narain is an environmentalist and author shaping environmental policy in India and globally. As Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, she advocates for climate justice and sustainable development. Time magazine named her among the world’s most influential people.

Mamphela Ramphele is a South African medical doctor, activist, and thought leader. She co-founded the Black Consciousness Movement and later held leadership roles in academia, business, and global governance. She is former Co-President of the Club of Rome.

Mary Robinson is a global advocate for human rights and climate justice. She served as Ireland’s first female President and later as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Today, she chairs The Elders and continues to champion climate justice worldwide.

Carlos Nobre is a Brazilian Earth system scientist and pioneer of Amazon research. He first proposed the “savannization” hypothesis and continues to influence Amazon policy and climate science. He co-chairs the Science Panel for the Amazon.

Ayisha Siddiqa is a Pakistani-American land and human rights defender. She co-founded Polluters Out and Fossil Free University. TIME named her one of its Women of the Year for her work on climate justice.

David Suzuki is a Canadian scientist, broadcaster, and environmental activist. He co-founded the David Suzuki Foundation to promote sustainable living. For decades, his work has inspired global action on climate change.

Robert Redford (1936–2025) was an Academy Award–winning actor, director, and environmental advocate. He founded the Sundance Institute and co-founded The Redford Center. For more than four decades, he championed clean energy, climate action, and environmental protection. He is remembered as a Planetary Guardian Emeritus.

Jane Goodall DBE was a primatologist and conservationist whose research on wild chimpanzees transformed science and inspired global action. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots, empowering youth in over 65 countries.
She is remembered as a Planetary Guardian emeritus.