9 Powerful People Who Fought for Climate Action in 2018

Giving Compass' Take:

• In 2018, there were nine notable people committed to fighting for climate action through donations, commissions, and environmental policy changes. 

• How can philanthropists, policymakers, and corporate employees collaborate to make concrete changes in climate action? 

• Read about how businesses are taking on climate action. 

And a new report by the UN found that the timeframe for mitigating climate change may be shorter than previously predicted.  But this year, we also saw leaders propelling environmental activism forward and demanding collaborative action on climate change.

These are nine powerful people who stood up for the environment in 2018.

• Bill Gates: Alongside Ban Ki-moon, he launched the Global Commission on Adaptation to bring experts and citizens together to discuss solutions to climate change.
• Ban Ki-moon: Ban urged global leaders, businesses, and citizens to invest in adaptation to ensure that all communities can withstand extreme climate events.
• Tina Birmpili: Birmpili pushed for equal gender representation and inclusivity in the fight against climate change after attending the Climate Leaders' Summit: Women Kicking It on Climate in May.
• Musimbi Kanyoro: Kanyoro is a leader on women's rights and empowers women with access to economic opportunity through her work.
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Distinguishing herself as a formidable force in Washington when she began calling for a new Green New Deal that would result in trillions of dollars in investments in green energy and sustainability.
• Michael Bloomberg:  Bloomberg was involved in the Paris climate agreement, founded the environmental group C40, and has donated tens of millions to cities and environmental groups.
• Hansjörg Wyss: Announced in his eloquent op-ed that he was committing $1 billion to fighting climate change through 2030.
• Leonardo DiCaprio: The movie star has long advocated for the planet and has donated tens of millions of dollars to conservation groups through his eponymous foundation.
• Christina Figueres: Figueres is widely credited with being the primary architect of the Paris climate agreement in 2015, and since then she's been working on the frontlines of the stopping climate change.