Eva Riesenhuber: The 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025

Humanity has not existed on this planet with more than 2 degrees Celsius of global warming and the business case to invest in climate change mitigation now rather than suffer the consequences has never been clearer. This moment holds immense potential as there is no single action to advance the climate agenda, it requires system changes like more renewable energy sources coming online; smarter grids allowing for bidirectional electricity flow and higher, more efficient peak load; better battery storage; broader charging networks; and a unified energy market. 

National commitments to the Paris Agreement of well below 2 degrees Celsius global warming, and countries’ related national climate action plans, form the foundation of these system changes. New Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are due this year and bold commitments to course correct what is currently a 2.6 degrees Celsius pathway are important. In other words, governments, companies, and civil society must align around a shared vision, and act decisively to make systemic change a reality.

What’s one sustainability effort you personally will try to adopt in the next year?

I’ve been working on reducing my environmental impact for years now, biking to work instead of driving, switching to an electric car, being mindful about waste, and offsetting my flights when I have to travel. 

One new consideration for me is that I’m seriously thinking about becoming a beekeeper. I love being connected to nature’s cycles: watching how the different seasons affect the flowers, trees, and insects, and understanding more deeply how our ecosystem works. At a time when we’re seeing such dramatic declines in insect populations worldwide, it feels like a small but meaningful way to help. 

In my professional life, I deal with large-scale sustainability initiatives, but sometimes it’s these personal, hands-on projects that can be the most fulfilling.

What is a climate solution that isn’t getting the attention or funding it deserves?