More than 50 speakers in five curated sessions that combine TED's signature blend of actionable and research-backed ideas, cutting-edge science, and moments of wonder and inspiration.
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Session 1: Urgency
Launching the Countdown means asking ourselves the big questions: what’s the state of the climate today? What does climate science know? How are we going to achieve a net-zero future? How do we center climate justice in our work? Hear from experts, policymakers and activists in this opening session.
Hosted by Don Cheadle and Mark Ruffalo.
Entrepreneur, activist
Lindsay Levin has dedicated her life to reshaping what leadership looks like, exploring our collective humanity through vulnerability and listening.
Head of TED
After a long career in journalism and publishing, Chris Anderson became the curator of the TED Conference in 2002 and has developed it as a platform for identifying and disseminating ideas worth spreading.
Climate impact scholar
A co-developer of the planetary boundaries framework, Johan Rockström works to understand Earth’s resilience.
Climate and data scientist
Angel Hsu is a professor and data geek who applies data-driven methods to solve challenging environmental issues.
Secretary-General of the United Nations
António Guterres is at the forefront of fighting the climate emergency and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Singer, songwriter
Latin superstar Prince Royce is a multi-platinum award-winning singer and songwriter.
Member of Parliament, UK
David Lammy is the first Black MP to hold the Justice post in British Parliament, either in government or opposition.
Stubborn optimist
Christiana Figueres is an internationally recognized leader on climate action and steered the global diplomatic effort that culminated in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Singer, songwriter
Latin superstar Prince Royce is a multi-platinum award-winning singer and songwriter.
Session 2: Leadership
The climate crisis demands leadership at every level. Governments, cities and businesses are three key players in designing and implementing the necessary transition. Speakers in this session will discuss putting climate back on the political and social agenda, rethinking cities, and what businesses can do to transform.
Hosted by Al Gore and Jaden Smith.
Climate advocate
Nobel Laureate Al Gore continues to focus the world's attention on the global climate crisis.
Actor, musician, activist
Jaden Smith is an actor, rapper and advocate for a cleaner world.
Environmental educator
Severn Cullis-Suzuki is a lifelong environmental activist seeking justice for future generations.
President of the European Commission
Ursula von der Leyen believes that green and digital transformations hold the key to Europe's future prosperity and resilience.
Artist
The transparent simplicity and experiential nature of Olafur Eliasson's work has built his reputation as one of the world's most accessible creators of contemporary art.
Capitalism rethinker
Rebecca Henderson is obsessed with finding solutions to climate change.
Novelist, political scientist
One of the most unique novelists in today's world literature, Elif Shafak's writing blends East and West, feminism and memory, the local and the global, bringing the periphery to the centre, giving voice to the voiceless and the disempowered.
CEO of Ingka Group (IKEA)
Jesper Brodin believes in values-based leadership and togetherness.
CSO of Ingka Group (IKEA)
With passion, drive and a team of sustainability professionals, Pia Heidenmark Cook leads the sustainability agenda for the Ingka Group.
Head of worldwide sustainability at Amazon
Kara Hurst leads the development and evolution of sustainability and social responsibility at Amazon.
CEO of worldwide consumer unit at Amazon
Dave Clark leads Amazon’s global supply chain and logistics operations.
Comedian
A writer and stand-up comedian, Aparna Nancherla is one of the most exciting new voices to hit the comedy scene.
Scientific director, Panthéon Sorbonne University-IAE Paris
Carlos Moreno brings pioneering concepts and an innovative perspective to urban issues.
Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone
As mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr is committed to addressing her city's challenges using an inclusive, data-driven approach to urban development.
Singer, songwriter, composer, actress
UN Goodwill Ambassador and Afropop artist Yemi Alade is known for her electrifying stagecraft and edgy style.
Session 3: Transformation
Transforming big systems is a huge task. Energy, transportation, industry and infrastructure all pose their own challenges. And yet that transformation is already happening. The experts in this session will show how and where, and offer powerful ideas for accelerating it: developing an economy without coal, decarbonizing fossil fuels, electrifying mobility and more.
Hosted by Jane Fonda and Xiye Bastida.
Actor, activist
Jane Fonda has had four extraordinary careers (so far): Oscar-winning actor, author, fitness guru and impassioned activist.
Climate activist
Xiye Bastida is one of the lead organizers of the Fridays For Future youth climate strike movement.
Clean energy executive, physicist, author
To combat climate change, Varun Sivaram seeks to scale up clean energy technologies and cultivate innovation ecosystems spanning industry, academia and government.
Climate science scholar
Myles Allen studies how human activities and natural drivers contribute to changes in global climate and risks of extreme weather.
Energy researcher
Rose M. Mutiso works with a global network of experts finding solutions for energy deficits across Africa and Asia. She is also helping African women become scholars and thought leaders.
Singer, songwriter
Raye Zaragoza is an award-winning singer-songwriter who Paste Magazine called "one of the most politically relevant artists in her genre."
Electrification advocate
Monica Araya works with leaders in government, business, philanthropy and activism to accelerate the shift toward emissions-free transportation.
Climate activist
Gloria Kasang Bulus has dedicated her life to promoting environmental ethics, sustainable use of natural resources and preserving the natural environment for future generations.
Carbon footprint activist
Nana Firman wants to unite the world behind a commitment to sustainability and environmental justice.
Climate education activist
Ximena Loría works to expose the human cost of environmental problems.
Firefighter and climate activist
Tim Guinee is a passionate advocate for creating a more sustainable world.
Photographer
By blending up to 100 still photographs into a seamless composite that captures the transition from day to night, Stephen Wilkes reveals the stories hidden in familiar locations.
Singer, songwriter, composer, actress
UN Goodwill Ambassador and Afropop artist Yemi Alade is known for her electrifying stagecraft and edgy style.
Session 4: Breakthroughs
The world around us is mainly made of two things: nature and the materials that we extract from it. To fight climate change, we need to protect and regenerate nature and transform materials into low or zero-carbon alternatives. This session explores the nexus of protection, regeneration and transformation using powerful examples.
Digital content creator
Prajakta Koli, aka MostlySane, is one of India's biggest digital creators with millions of followers across her social media handles.
Creator
Hannah Stocking is a multi-talented creator entertaining millions of followers from around the world with original content ranging from comedy sketches to interview shows to educational series.
Ecosystem ecology professor
In collaboration with vast networks of ecologists around the world, Thomas Crowther works to address the global threats of biodiversity loss and climate change.
Climate and gender activist
Sevidzem Ernestine Leikeki has a drive to care for nature, foster women's empowerment and build future nature-lovers.
The future of food production
How can we feed every member of a growing global population a healthy diet while preserving the planet? A TED-Ed animation written by Brent Loken.
Engineer, investor
John Doerr is an engineer, acclaimed venture capitalist, chairman of Kleiner Perkins and the author of "Speed and Scale" and "Measure What Matters."
Climate policy expert
Hal Harvey works with policymakers to develop a clean energy future.
Singer, songwriter
From the tiny town of Ålesund in Norway, Sigrid is a remarkable talent with a colossal mind, attitude and voice.
Cement researcher
Karen Scrivener researches how to make cement and concrete more sustainable.
Cement entrepreneur
Tom Schuler has spent three decades advancing sustainable innovation across global industries.
Social and climate justice advocate
Rahwa Ghirmatzion is executive director of People United for Sustainable Housing, a membership-based community organization committed to social and climate justice.
Social and climate justice advocate
Zelalem Adefris's work in public health addresses racial health and wealth disparities, policy development and climate resilience in low-wealth communities of color.
Actor, author, director
Don Cheadle is known for his passionate performances on stage and screen, as well as his philanthropy work on climate change and human rights.
The Duke of Cambridge
Protecting the natural environment for future generations is one of Prince William's key priorities.
Singer, songwriter
From the tiny town of Ålesund in Norway, Sigrid is a remarkable talent with a colossal mind, attitude and voice.
Session 5: Action
It’s time to take action. This closing session will explore the road ahead. How to think urgently and long-term about climate change. How to take into account the interests of future generations in today’s decisions. How we as individuals, communities and organizations can contribute to shaping a better future. The Countdown is on!
Hosted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Chris Hemsworth.
Actor, producer, activist
Priyanka Chopra Jonas is a multifaceted talent and one of the most recognized personalities in the world.
Actor
An active philanthropist, Chris Hemsworth is passionate about ocean conservation and finding solutions to climate change.
Poet, activist
Amanda Gorman made history at the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, becoming the US’s youngest inaugural poet.
Long-view philosopher
Roman Krznaric writes about the power of ideas to change society.
Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
Sophie Howe safeguards the interests and well-being of the future generations of Wales.
Marine conservationist
A United Nations Young Champion of the Earth, Miao Wang prefers to be underwater or in the sky.
President-Designate of COP26
Alok Sharma is a British politician, Cabinet Minister and President-Designate of COP26, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
UN High Level Climate Action Champion, COP26
Nigel Topping is the UN's High-Level Climate Action Champion. His aim is to amp up climate action ahead of COP26, the 2021 UN climate conference taking place in Glasgow.
Environment and social VP at Apple
Lisa Jackson is an environmental and social impact leader who has dedicated her career to building a greener and more just economy.
Writer, producer, filmmaker
Ava DuVernay amplifies the work of people of color and women of all kinds through her nonprofit film collective Array.
Bishop of Rome
Pope Francis is the head of the Roman Catholic Church and a strong advocate of global action against climate change, to which he has devoted his powerful 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si'."
Writer, poet
Known for his unusual approach to everyday issues, Andri Snær Magnason is a storyteller and environmental activist.
Actor, performer
Known for her role in the Broadway revival of "The Color Purple," Cynthia Erivo received two Academy Awards nominations in 2019 for her work on the movie "Harriet," about the life of Harriet Tubman.
Pianist
Gary Motley's career achievements as a pianist, composer, performer, arranger and educator garnered his induction into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 2015.
Head of TED
After a long career in journalism and publishing, Chris Anderson became the curator of the TED Conference in 2002 and has developed it as a platform for identifying and disseminating ideas worth spreading.
Entrepreneur, activist
Lindsay Levin has dedicated her life to reshaping what leadership looks like, exploring our collective humanity through vulnerability and listening.
Countdown program curation and production: Bruno Giussani, Lindsay Levin, Chris Anderson, Juliet Blake, Logan McClure Davda, Nicole Ng and the Countdown team.