India is undergoing a massive renewable energy transformation: CEO Earthshot Prize

Earthshot Prize CEO Jason Knauf. | Photo credit: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit

India is at the forefront of climate solutions and its innovations have immediate global applications, especially when it comes to issues such as heat stress, said Earthshot Prize CEO Jason Knauf. He was speaking to The Hindu on Thursday (November 12, 2026) against the backdrop of the launch of the five-day Earthshot Prize Summit, which will be held in Mumbai and Jaipur from November 13 to 17.

As COP31 meets in Türkiye for climate talks, it is India and Mumbai that will send a message on climate solutions, he said. “The race is on right now. The first country that can have access to cheap, clean and abundant energy will have a huge economic advantage. And I think India knows that. That’s why so much is being done here to tap into the huge solar resource that India has,” he said.

The Earthshot Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious environmental awards. It was founded six years ago by Prince William. This is the first time that the awards are being held in India. Prince William will be at events in India.

On Thursday (November 12, 2026), Mr. Knauf spoke about how India was the inspiration for launching the award, why the awards are being held in India this year, and in particular Mumbai, and what he learned during his time in the country. Noting that India is undergoing a “massive transformation” in renewable energy, he said it has an advantage over other countries in bringing sustainable climate solutions. He said there is no longer a debate between economic progress and environmental protection. “What’s good for the environment is good for business and Indian companies are showing that,” Mr Knauf said, adding that past Indian winners have managed to attract $800 million in commercial international investment after winning the Earthshot Prize.

The Earthshot Prize is set to make a big announcement in the coming week about the two Indian finalists – Mahindra Last Mile Mobility and Mahila Housing Trust.

Why India? Why Mumbai?

Mr Knauf said the climate action conversation needed to move beyond the “environmental bubble”. Appreciating India’s conservation efforts, he said it was important to showcase India’s optimism to the world. He added that the inspiration behind the awards also comes from India, talking about how the Prince of Wales saw environmental events during his visit to India in 2016, when he was inspired by the country’s approach to working with nature.

“In a country that is on the front lines of environmental problems, even though it didn’t cause them, people are more optimistic about their ability to solve them than many wealthier countries. That tells you something. We all need to learn from that example. We’re delighted that the Earthshot Prize is here to celebrate the Indian spirit for the world,” Mr Knauf said. He added that Mumbai has been chosen as the financial and entertainment capital of the country.

“Earthshot Prize is about reaching people. We want to reach investors, corporate leaders. We also want to tap into the world of entertainment and sports. Mumbai is the perfect place for that. It’s a global capital for the financial sector and the world of entertainment,” he said.

This year, the Earthshot Prize ceremony will be held on an unprecedented scale, he said, adding that more than 5,000 people will participate in the events, which will attract people from different countries and children from over 24 states of India. The event will be broadcast live in 240 countries for the first time.

Urgency + Optimism = Action

Asked 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 is a big threat to action. As big a threat as carbon emissions. Because the moment we decide that the problems are too hard, then we look the other way. That means giving up, and especially for the next generation coming up, that’s an unacceptable attitude,” he said.

Published – 12 Nov 2026 22:09 IST