Earthshot Prize CEO Jason Knauf.
| Photo Credit: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit
India is at the forefront of climate solutions, and its innovations have immediate global application, especially when it comes to issues such as heat stress, Earthshot Prize CEO Jason Knauf said. He was speaking with The Hindu on Thursday (November 12, 2026) on the background of the launch of the five-day Earthshot Prize summit, which will take place in Mumbai and Jaipur from November 13 to 17.
As COP31 gathers in Türkiye for climate negotiations, it is India and Mumbai which will send a message of climate solutions, he said. “There is a race going on right now. The first country that can have access to cheap, clean and abundant energy, is going to have a huge economic advantage. And I think, India knows that. Which is why so much is being done here to use the huge solar resource that India has,” he said.
Earthshot Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious environmental awards. It was founded by Prince William six years ago. This is the first time the awards are being held in India. Prince William will be in India for the events.
On Thursday (November 12, 2026), Mr. Knauf spoke about how India was an inspiration behind starting the award, why the awards are being held in India and particularly in Mumbai this year, and the lessons he has learnt during his stay in the country. Observing that India is undergoing a “massive transformation” about renewable energy, he said it had an advantage over other countries to bring in sustainable climate solutions. He said there was no debate between economic progress and environmental protection anymore. “What is good for the environment is good for business, and Indian companies are showing that,” Mr. Knauf said, adding that the past Indian winners had been able to raise $800 million in commercial international investment after winning the Earthshot Prize.
The Earthshot Prize is slated to make large announcements about two Indian finalists — Mahindra Last Mile Mobility and Mahila Housing Trust, in the coming week.
Why India? Why Mumbai?
Mr. Knauf said climate action conversation needed to move beyond the ‘environment bubble’. Acknowledging India’s efforts in the conservation sector, he said it was important to showcase India’s optimism to the world. Adding that the inspiration behind the awards came from India too, he spoke of how the Prince of Wales saw environmental action during his visit to India in 2016, when he was inspired by the country’s approach towards working with nature.
“For a country that is on the frontline of the environmental issues despite having not caused them, people are more optimistic about their abilities to solve them, than many richer countries. That tells you something. We all have to learn from that example. We are happy that the Earthshot Prize is coming here to celebrate that Indian spirit for the whole world,” Mr. Knauf said. He added that Mumbai was chosen as it was the financial and entertainment capital of the country.
“Earthshot Prize is about getting out to people. We want to get out to investors, to corporate leaders. We also want to tap into the world of entertainment and sporting. Mumbai is the perfect place for that. It is the global capital for the financial sector and the entertainment world,” he said.
This year, Earthshot Prize ceremony will be held at an unprecedented scale, he said, adding that over 5,000 people would participate in the events which would draw people from different countries, and children from over 24 States of India. The event would be live telecast around 240 countries for the first time.
Urgency + optimism = action
Asked about how he saw the climate challenge, Mr. Knauf said he was an eternal optimist. “At Earthshot, we have a simple equation — urgency + optimism = action. Anyone who wants to give up and be negative, that is a big threat to action. As big a threat as carbon emissions. Because the second we decide that the issues are too hard, then we look the other way. That is giving up, and particularly for the next generation that is coming, it is an unacceptable attitude,” he said.
Published – November 12, 2026 10:09 pm IST
