Jeremy Leggett Honoured with Half-Million-Dollar Blue Planet Prize

Now in its 34th year, the Blue Planet Prize continues to shine a spotlight on those who are reshaping our environmental future. Sponsored by the Asahi Glass Foundation under the stewardship of Chairman Takuya Shimamura, this internationally renowned award honours two outstanding individuals or organisations each year whose work has made a meaningful impact on solving the planet’s environmental challenges.

For 2025, the Foundation’s Board of Directors has named two distinguished figures as this year’s laureates—each of them a pioneer in their field, each leaving an indelible mark on how we think about and act on climate change.

1. Professor Robert B. Jackson (USA)

Born: September 26, 1961

Affiliation: Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University

Professor Jackson's work is rooted in one of the most intricate and pressing areas of environmental science: the global carbon cycle. His research has unravelled how carbon moves through terrestrial ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands—places that are often taken for granted but are pivotal to climate stability.

What sets his work apart isn’t just scientific rigour but the sheer breadth of insight. By studying interactions between soil, plant life, and the microbial communities that live beneath our feet, Jackson has helped to decode the subtle yet critical drivers of greenhouse gas flux. He has quantified emissions of key gases—carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide—not only from natural systems but also from the burning of fossil fuels.

Since 2017, he has chaired the Global Carbon Project. This major international initiative tracks and helps reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. His leadership here has placed him at the very heart of the scientific effort to curb climate change.

2. Dr. Jeremy Leggett (UK)

Born: March 16, 1954

Founder and CEO: Highlands Rewilding Ltd.

Inaugural Chairman: Carbon Tracker Initiative

Dr. Jeremy Leggett is no stranger to the frontline of climate action—both in the boardroom and on the land. As the first chairman of the Carbon Tracker Initiative, he played a key role in putting the “carbon bubble” theory on the map. This now-famous concept warns that investments in fossil fuels are not only environmentally dangerous but financially unsound.

By equipping investors and policymakers with critical data and insights, Carbon Tracker helped ignite the global divestment movement, prompting major funds to reconsider their stake in a carbon-intensive future.

However, Leggett didn’t stop at theory. He helped launch one of the UK’s foremost solar energy firms, bridging the gap between climate science and commercial innovation. More recently, his work in Scotland through Highlands Rewilding combines ecological restoration with social equity, aiming to regenerate landscapes while creating shared prosperity for local communities.

Each recipient will be awarded a certificate of merit, a commemorative trophy, and a cash prize of $500,000 in recognition of their contributions.

The official Award Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Tokyo Kaikan. Commemorative lectures are set for October 30 at the University of Tokyo, followed by another session on November 1 at Kyoto International Community House (kokoka).

These events will not only honour the winners but also provide a platform for deeper engagement with the global community on the issues that matter most: climate, conservation, and the collective journey toward sustainability.