Conservation International CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan and Board Members Named to Inaugural List of TIME100 Climate Leaders

ARLINGTON, Va. (Nov. 16, 2023) – TIME today named Conservation International’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. M. Sanjayan to the inaugural TIME100 Climate list, recognizing the 100 most innovative leaders driving business climate action. Also on the list are two members of Conservation International’s Board of Directors: fashion designer Stella McCartney and Apple’s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa P. Jackson.

Sanjayan is a conservation scientist and heads Conservation International, a non-profit that working with governments, civil society and the private sector to conserve nature, primarily in the Global South. TIME notes that Sanjayan’s skills as a science communicator have helped Conservation International facilitate powerful partnerships for environmental protection.

"We cannot plant and restore our way out of the climate crisis, but we also cannot afford to ignore nature,” Sanjayan told TIME. “As scientists gain insight into the carbon cycle, we’re discovering new ways to turbocharge nature’s ability to capture and accelerate atmospheric carbon removals while providing many benefits to communities.”

“Solutions must address Global South exigencies. They must be justice-oriented and resilient,” he added.

To assemble the list, TIME's editors and reporters fielded nominations and recommendations from industry leaders and partner organizations like Global Optimism and The B Team, as well as TIMECO2’s Advisory Council, then worked to assess the candidates on a variety of factors, including recency of action, measurable results, and influence.  

Read Sanjayan’s TIME100 Climate profile here. Watch Sanjayan here covering the climate crisis on CNN, CBS News, PBS, Discovery and others.

See the full TIME list here or find it in the December 5 print magazine issue, on newsstands November 24.

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About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.