10 Years of Climate Changemakers Share Their Wins in NYC

Climate action isn't just happening in boardrooms and laboratories. It's happening through the hands of builders, dreamers, and doers who refused to give up on ambitious ideas.

This September, Grist is celebrating 10 years of spotlighting climate changemakers with a special live event during Climate Week NYC. The evening will feature powerful storytelling from the people who turned their climate visions into measurable impact.

Among the speakers are Flora Lichtman and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, who will record a live Science Friday podcast. They'll be joined by Steph Speirs, Jerome Foster II, and Jessie Bluedorn, each representing different years of Grist's influential list of climate innovators.

These aren't just talkers. They're people who have actually moved the needle on climate progress. Their work spans renewable energy, sustainable transportation, environmental justice, and policy reform.

The event promises to share not just the victories, but the setbacks and risks that shaped their journeys. Real progress rarely follows a straight line, and these stories reflect the messy, human side of solving our biggest challenges.

For the past decade, Grist has been tracking these changemakers as they've gone from ambitious ideas to tangible results. Some have launched successful companies. Others have influenced major policy decisions or empowered communities to take local climate action.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this gathering special isn't just the individual achievements. It's seeing how one person's breakthrough creates opportunities for others to build on that progress.

When climate innovators share their real stories, including the failures and pivots, they create a roadmap for the next generation of problem solvers. Jerome Foster II, one of the youngest changemakers on the list, shows how quickly new leaders are emerging to tackle climate challenges.

The event is backed by major environmental organizations including NRDC and The Wilderness Society, signaling strong institutional support for solution-focused climate work. This isn't fringe activism. It's mainstream momentum.

For those who can't attend in person, Grist is making the event video available online, ensuring these stories of progress reach beyond New York.

After 10 years of chronicling climate solutions, one thing is clear: the people building a better future are already here, and their work is making a real difference.