TIME Reveals 2026 TIME100 Climate List
The fourth annual list spotlights 100 leaders driving business climate action, including Rivian founder RJ Scaringe and Ursula von der Leyen.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
TIME has published its 2026 TIME100 Climate list, the fourth annual edition, featuring 100 leaders driving business climate action. Editors and correspondents reviewed hundreds of names, focusing on individuals who achieved measurable and sustainable action over the last 12 months.
Why it matters
The list highlights individuals whose climate work is tied to measurable, sustainable results rather than pledges alone. It arrives as climate policy and corporate decarbonization remain central to the global economy and to the electric vehicle sector.
The list comprises 100 honorees chosen from a pool of hundreds of nominees, according to TIME's editorial review. The selection criteria emphasize action completed within the last 12 months, though the stub does not detail how that window was weighted against long-term commitments.
The players
TIME
TIME is an American news magazine that publishes annual influential-person rankings, including the TIME100 franchise.
RJ Scaringe
RJ Scaringe is the founder and CEO of Rivian, an electric vehicle manufacturer known for its pickup trucks and commercial delivery vans.
Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen is the President of the European Commission, leading the European Union's executive branch and its climate policy agenda.
The details
TIME's editors and correspondents reviewed hundreds of names to build the 2026 list, which includes Prince William, Russell Westbrook, Benedict Cumberbatch, RJ Scaringe of Rivian, Wendy Schmidt, Ursula von der Leyen, Spencer Cox and Laurence Tubiana. The list is designed to recognize leaders driving business climate action rather than public figures in general.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: TIME reveals the 2026 TIME100 Climate list.
November 10, 2026: TIME convenes the TIME100 Impact Dinner during COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Big Picture
The list's emphasis on business climate action aligns with the decarbonization commitments set under the Paris Agreement, which COP31 in Antalya is positioned to advance. It frames corporate and individual progress against those national and international targets.
For drivers weighing an electric vehicle, leadership recognition like this signals which manufacturers are pursuing measurable decarbonization rather than marketing alone. The list does not itself change vehicle pricing, charging access, or federal incentives available to buyers.
The takeaway
Recognition of individual leaders signals where business climate progress is being measured, and buyers can use that lens when comparing electric vehicle makers. Track company-level results over pledges when evaluating automotive climate claims.
What happens next
TIME will convene the TIME100 Impact Dinner on November 10 during COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Further reading
Explore more on Electric Vehicles and the business leaders reshaping the category.
