Time named the eco-leader of the role of Sherlock and the head of the European Commission

Time magazine released its fourth annual Time Climate list, which includes the 100 most influential people promoting climate action in business. The 2026 list included Prince William, former NBA player Russell Westbrook, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other figures.

Among the participants in the list are musician Brian Eno, founder and CEO of electric car manufacturer Rivian R.J. Scaringe, philanthropist and investor Wendy Schmidt, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, head of the European Climate Fund Laurence Tubiana, strategy director of STAX Engineering, which developed a system for capturing emissions based on a barge, Edward Norton and CEO of developing geothermal energy Fervo Energy Tim Latimer.

In the foreword to the list, Time Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs noted that the editorial board reviewed hundreds of nominations and paid special attention to those who have achieved tangible and long-term results over the past 12 months. “These innovators join a galaxy of outstanding thinkers, investors and pioneers who are creating new approaches to addressing climate challenges, reminding us that there are many leaders in the world looking to the future.”.

In 2024, ABC News noted that more and more famous people were joining environmental movements and collaborating with green brands. Among the most prominent supporters of the environmental agenda in previous decades, according to the TV channel, were actors Jane Fonda, Daryl Hannah and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Experts attributed the growth of this trend to increased public attention to the climate crisis. According to Harvard University associate professor Christy Denkle, celebrities are able to attract people to environmental initiatives and encourage them to take action. At the same time, sincerity, consistency and personal example are important for such support: stars need not only to declare their position, but also to show the results of their own activities. “People are skeptical,” said Tomai Serdari, a marketing professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

However, experts noted that the impact of celebrities on the environmental agenda is not always measurable. In particular, it remained unclear to what extent their involvement helped push for changes in policies and industry standards.