Discover also our 2024 rankings of the Most Read Thought Leaders in Carbon, Climate Change, Energy, Energy Transition, Environmental Sustainability, ESG, Social Responsibility and Sustainable Finance.

We are proud to present the most-read Thought Leaders of the year in Nature globally, as recognized by illuminem's ever-growing community of over 500,000+ readers.

The authors listed below are part of a distinguished group of over 1,500 Thought Leaders publishing on illuminem. They include business leaders, scientists, academics, activists and policymakers from every corner of the globe. While their perspectives may differ, they are united by a shared mission: to address global energy challenges, promote green energy consumption, and drive innovation for a brighter, more sustainable future.

Please help us congratulate the TOP 10 Sustainability Thought Leaders of the Year in Nature!

1️⃣ John Scanlon - Executive President of the International Council of Environmental Law and Director of Global Wildlife Fund
Country: Australia 🇦🇺
Most-Read Thought Piece: Plastics pollution treaty negotiations – alternative pathways to overcome the impasse
Profile: John Scanlon is a seasoned leader in the fields of environment, governance and sustainable development, with a unique range of experience gained across multiple continents, disciplines and organisations. He is the executive president of International Council of Environmental Law and has served in senior positions in the private sector, with government, international organisations, the United Nations, and not-for-profit organisations.

2️⃣ Carlos Correa - Senior Fellow of Conservation International and fmr. Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia
Country: Colombia 🇨🇴
Most-Read Thought Piece: Cali in motion
Profile: Carlos Correa is a senior fellow of Conservation International and co-chair of the World Economic Forum's Experts Task Force on Nature-Positive Cities. He previously served as Colombia's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, where he advanced climate action, biodiversity conservation, and carbon markets. Correa is also a Non-Resident Fellow at the Institute of the Americas and an Eisenhower Global Fellow.

3️⃣ Ibrahim Thiaw - Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Country: Mauritania 🇲🇷
Most-Read Thought Piece: Everything ties us human beings to the land
Profile: Ibrahim Thiaw is the under-secretary-general and executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, with 40 years of experience in sustainable development, environmental governance and natural resource management. He is currently special adviser to the secretary-general for the Sahel. Prior to this position, from 2013 to 2018, he was deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme.

4️⃣ Harini Nagendra - Leading Author of IPCC Report and Director and Professor of Sustainability of the University of Bangalore
Country: India 🇮🇳
Most-Read Thought Piece: When cities were Nature’s haven: a tale from Bangalore
Profile: Harini Nagendra is the director and a professor of sustainability at Azim Premji University in Bangalore, India, and a globally recognised ecologist. Her work integrates satellite remote sensing, biodiversity field studies, and institutional analysis to explore the socio-ecological sustainability of forests and cities in South Asia. She is a lead author for the 5th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report and has over 150 scientific publications.

5️⃣ Cameron Price - Sustainability Educator of Australian College of Business Intelligence and Advocate of Nature-based Solutions
Country: Australia 🇦🇺
Most-Read Thought Piece: The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: A call for urgent and transformative action
Profile: Cameron Price is a sustainability consultant and educator. He’s a convenor of EcoLaunch, an accelerator designed to empower entrepreneurs committed to nature-based solutions, driving regeneration of ecosystems and communities. In addition, he teaches at the Australian College of Business Intelligence and he is executive advisor of Climateers.

6️⃣ Krithi Karanth - Chief Executive Officer of Bengaluru-based Centre for Wildlife Studies
Country: India 🇮🇳
Most-Read Thought Piece: Can India simultaneously protect the environment and promote development?
Profile: Dr. Krithi K Karanth, chief executive officer at Bengaluru-based Centre for Wildlife Studies, has been chosen as the first Indian and Asian woman for the 2021 “WILD Innovator Award”. This award given by the ‘‘WILD Elements Foundation” brings together a coalition of innovators, advocates and partners to “disrupt the status quo and identify solutions to global sustainability and conservation."

7️⃣ Makario Sarsozo - Science Communicator of the Building Decarbonization Coalition and fmr. Environmental Analyst of NASA Develop National Program
Country: United States 🇺🇸
Most-Read Thought Piece: The United States has a moral imperative to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity now
Profile: Makario Sarsozo is the content manager of the Building Decarbonization Coalition. He is a senior storyteller and science communicator with experience writing and producing science and climate content for various platforms, including National Geographic, Science Channel, and NASA. He is an executive committee member of Sierra Club DC and a passionate environmental justice advocate. 

8️⃣ Ralph Chami - Co-Founder of Blue Green Future and fmr. Assistant Director of the International Monetary Fund
Country: United States 🇺🇸
Most-Read Thought Piece: Building markets for a nature-positive world: a triple win strategy
Profile: Ralph Chami is CEO and co-founder of Blue Green Future, a team made up of experts in financial markets, economic modelling, policy, leadership, and psychology, with experience in teaching, researching, consulting and advising. He is also co-founder of Rebalance Earth, and is a visiting professor at Williams College. He recently retired from the International Monetary Fund to work on climate change and biodiversity loss.

9️⃣ Yury Erofeev - Research and Development Sustainability Manager of SQUAKE
Country: Russia 🇷🇺
Most-Read Thought Piece: Corporate volunteering: The four biggest mistakes
Profile: Yury Erofeev is a Research and Development sustainability manager of SQUAKE, specialising in market analysis, carbon calculation methodologies, and product development within the transport and travel sectors. With a solid foundation in physics, mathematics, and sustainable development, he is passionate about driving impactful change through data-driven insights and strategic innovation.

🔟 Vesela Tanaskovic Gassner - Climate Scientist and Desert Greening Expert
Country: Serbia 🇷🇸
Most-Read Thought Piece: Illuminating hope: a revolutionary approach to afforestation and desert greening
Profile: Dr. Vesela Tanaskovic Gassner is a renowned climate scientist and desert greening expert. With a focus on knowledge transfer, she works closely with NGOs, institutions, and governments, providing clear actionable advice to address misinformation and promote sustainable solutions for arid environments and agriculture.

To the most read sustainability thought leaders in nature, 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 2025.

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