The Power of Grassroots Climate Entrepreneurship

As world leaders and influential figures gather for high-profile meetings at London Climate Action Week, the world expects decisive action on the most pressing sustainability priorities—from decarbonization and adaptation to environmental protection and restoration. However, while global attention remains fixed on wide-scale initiatives and top-level agreements, the real future of sustainability and resilience is often being built outside the boardroom, where local innovators are creating bold solutions that can deliver tangible and scalable results for communities around the world.

Today, over 3.6 billion people are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as radical weather patterns and continuous land degradation threaten to disrupt livelihoods, reduce food security, and hamper economic opportunity around the world. Of course, a challenge of this scale requires a collective and comprehensive effort from global decision makers, who must align investment flows, government policy, and business strategies to transform existing systems and support those living in at-risk regions.

But progress does not only come from the top, and as someone who spent over a decade helping to create value from waste through TriCiclos—a Latin American pioneer in circular economy—I have witnessed firsthand the power of sustainable entrepreneurship in uplifting and protecting vulnerable communities. What began with the simple act of making recycling more accessible has evolved into a multi-country movement driving sustainable business practices across an entire continent. Similarly, through my work with Sistema B and AmbitionLoop, we've helped elevate business as a force for good, moving beyond profit to purpose.

And yet, none of this happens in a vacuum, because visionary ideas demand recognition, resources, and reach. For local innovators seeking to refine and grow their solutions, the global ecosystem of philanthropic organizations and humanitarian awards—such as the Zayed Sustainability Prize—has become an essential engine for progress. Since its founding, the Prize has empowered over 100 sustainable entrepreneurs from 78 countries, helping scale pioneering projects to improve the lives of more than 384 million people. These are not just numbers; they are children learning under solar lights, families drinking clean water, and farmers cultivating climate-smart crops.

Take, for instance, the 2023 Energy Innovation category winner, Rwandan-based Ignite Energy Access: they are deploying decentralized and AI-enabled energy solutions to expand access across Africa and facilitate the transition to solar power. Or S4S Technologies in India, whose food preservation technologies have fed over 1 million people living in rural communities throughout South Asia. These stories echo a common truth: when sustainable innovation is rooted in local wisdom and powered by global support, extraordinary things happen.

Serving on the Prize's Selection Committee has deepened my appreciation for this delicate balance between innovation and implementation. We are not merely recognizing ideas; we are investing in models that work—proven by impact, sustained by community, and scalable through partnerships. The Prize brings credibility, confidence, and well-needed exposure to organizations that might otherwise struggle to be seen; it validates their vision and attracts the support needed to expand their transformational innovations.

The challenges we face are no longer tomorrow's problem, as billions around the world already struggle with poor access to essential services and economic opportunity, while the consequences of climate change are now putting added pressure on vulnerable communities. In this context, we cannot afford to dismiss local and grassroots solutions as fringe experiments, as they are on the frontlines delivering tangible change for millions every single day.

Supporting local entrepreneurs is—and will continue to be—an essential part of our journey to resilience and sustainability. For that reason, we need more platforms like the Zayed Sustainability Prize. We need more investors, governments, and institutions to recognize that the future is being built from the bottom up. We need to believe in the brilliance of the many, not just the might of the few.

The next chapter of sustainable innovation is about empowering people to wield new technologies in the service of justice, resilience, and dignity. From green energy to regenerative agriculture, the common denominator is always people: empowered, informed, and inspired to act. So let us champion the dreamers. Let us fund the doers. Let us scale the solutions that already work.