TOP 10 Most-Read Thought Leaders of 2023

Discover also our 2024 ranking of the Most Read Thought Leaders of the Year. Enjoy our 2023 Thought Leader rankings on Climate Change, Carbon, ESG, Social Responsibility and Energy. Explore how this year’s leaders compare to the most read thought leaders of 2022!

In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of sustainability, the voices that resonate the most are those that drive change, inspire action, and illuminate the path toward a more sustainable future. That's why we are proud to present the most-read sustainability thought leaders worldwide, as recognized by illuminem, the leading platform in sustainability information and the largest expert network in the industry with 200,000+ loyal users and 1,300+ engaged Thought Leaders.

These awards are a heartfelt "thank you" to our thousands of contributors who have enriched the climate debate. They represent the pinnacle of leadership across diverse domains: from carbon to greentech innovation, encompassing academia, business, and policy-making. Our recognition spans all continents, underlining our commitment to providing a broad and inclusive spectrum of sustainability insights.

At illuminem, our mission is more than a statement – it's a commitment lived daily. We strive to spread knowledge to empower the sustainable transition. 

These awards are thus not just accolades but a testament to the impact and importance of our global community in climate action. Thank you to each one of you for guiding, educating, and inspiring our journey towards a sustainable world.

Please help us congratulate the TOP 10 Sustainability Thought Leaders of the year!

1️⃣ Erin Remblance - Co-founder of re(Biz)
Country: Australia
Most-Read Thought Piece: Corporations can't be greened 
Core Topic: Degrowth 
Profile: Erin Remblance is the leading author in the global degrowth debate. She is a co-founder of (re)Biz, a program designed for leaders seeking to implement regeneration and post-growth solutions into their organizations. She worked previously at NOCO2, an Australian-based firm, where she enabled businesses of all sizes to reduce their carbon footprint. Erin lives with her family in Sydney, Australia.

2️⃣ Robert Höglund - Advisor for Marginal Carbon, Member of Expert Group on Carbon Removals for the European Commission
Country: Sweden
Most-Read Thought Piece: When do sales of carbon removal credits benefit the climate?
Core Topic: Carbon
Profile: Robert Höglund is an advisor in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and climate impact. He manages the charitable Milkywire Climate Transformation Fund, co-founded the CDR market overview CDR.fyi, works with the NGO Carbon Gap, and writes reports and articles on carbon removal and corporate climate contributions. He is also a member of the EU Expert Group on Carbon Removals and of the Science-based Target Initiative's (SBTi) Technical Advisory Group.

3️⃣ Eve Tamme - Founder of Climate Principles, fmr. Chair, Working Party on the Environment, Council of the European Union
Country: Estonia
Most-Read Thought Piece: The convergence of the voluntary and compliance carbon markets
Core Topic: Carbon
Profile: Eve Tamme is a Director of Climate Principles and senior advisor on climate policy. She is also a Member of the Expert Group on Carbon Removals of the European Commission and Chair of the Zero Emissions Platform. Her expertise covers the Paris Agreement, the EU Emissions Trading System, carbon markets, climate governance, and carbon removal.

4️⃣ Jeremy Bentham - Co-Chair of the World Energy Council
Country: United Kingdom
Most-Read Thought Piece: Want a healthy planet? Unleash women.
Core Topic: Oil&Gas
Profile: Jeremy Bentham is the Co-Chair of the World Energy Council and Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He led the internationally renowned Shell Scenarios team for over fifteen years, advising company leadership and senior external policy-makers on energy transitions and strategic direction. He has deep experience in framing and making investment and policy choices in the face of radical uncertainties.

5️⃣ Harald Walkate - Founder of Finding Ways Ahead, Senior Fellow of the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth of the University of Zurich
Country: Netherlands
Most-Read Thought Piece: Now we’re talking: why pension funds should engage with their members on ESG investing
Core Topic: ESG
Profile: Harald Walkate is the founding partner of Route17, an independent blended finance advisory. He is also a Senior Fellow at the University of Zurich Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP). Previously he was the Head of ESG of Natixis Investment Managers and Global Head of Responsible Investment at Aegon Asset Management.

6️⃣ Elena Morettini - CSO of Globant, Co-founder of BecauseEnergyMatters
Country: Argentina
Most-Read Thought Piece: As many as possible
Core Topic: Sustainable Business
Profile: Elena Morettini is the Global Head of Sustainable Business at Globant, a native digital multinational company, and co-founder of Because Energy Matters. She has previously held key managerial positions in renowned international companies such as Shell, Repsol YPF, Badley Ashton, and Fugro GeoConsulting. Elena founded the first Diversity and Inclusion Committee for Oil and Gas in the LATAM region.

7️⃣ Erik Solheim - Fmr. Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, fmr. Minister of the Climate and Environment of Norway
Country: Norway
Most-Read Thought Piece: State, market and education: the recipe for bringing all humans out of poverty
Core Topic: Sustainable Business
Profile: Erik Solheim is the Vice Chair of The China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). He served as Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development from 2005 to 2012. Erik has been chair of the OECD Development Assistance Committee as well as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program. 

8️⃣ Noé van Hulst - Fmr. Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Energy Agency (IEA), fmr. Ambassador of the Netherlands to the OECD
Country: The Netherlands
Most-Read Thought Piece: Excerpts from 'Dutch Disease to Energy Transition'
Core Topic: Hydrogen
Profile: Noé van Hulst is a Special Advisor to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Vice-Chair of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy and Senior Fellow at Clingendael International Energy Programme. He has served as the Dutch Ambassador to the OECD, Chairman of the IEA Governing Board, and Director-General for Energy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands.

9️⃣ Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana - Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific
Country: Indonesia
Most-Read Thought Piece: Race to zero in Asia and the Pacific: our hopes in the climate fight
Core Topic: Diversity&Inclusion
Profile: Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). She also serves on the Governing Board of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). She is Indonesia’s former State Minister for National Development Planning from 2009 to 2014.

🔟 Nicholas Stern - Fmr. Chief Economist of the World Bank, Chairman of the London School of Economics Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment
Country: United Kingdom
Most-Read Thought Piece: From pledges to progress: delivering on COP28's historic agreement
Core Topic: Climate Change
Profile: Lord Nicholas Stern is a member of the House of Lords, former Chief Economist of The World Bank, current Chairman at the London School of Economics Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment, and the world's foremost expert on the critical relationship between climate change and economic development.

To the most read sustainability thought leaders worldwide, congratulations on your well-deserved recognition. Your commitment to excellence has set a high standard for us all, and we are excited to see the continued growth and innovation that will undoubtedly define the future of sustainability initiatives in 2024.

Stay tuned to our platform and social media for our category-specific rankings that will be released in the upcoming weeks!

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