Adam Met Says Everyone Plays an Important Role in Solving the Climate Crisis

ADam Met, a member of the indie pop band AJR and an environmental advocate, received the Earth Award on Oct. 9 at the TIME100 Next Gala in Manhattan. The annual event honors emerging leaders around the world, and TIME’s Earth Awards highlight people who are working to solve the climate crisis.

Met was recognized for his work as founder and Executive Director of the non-profit Planet Reimagined, advocating for the repurposing of the world’s oil and gas reserves for renewable energy sources. Met has a BA from Columbia University and a PhD focusing on large scale renewable projects.

Dressed in a green velvet blazer befitting his work to promote a greener planet, Met said his favorite part of working on climate change issues is bringing people together from all different backgrounds. “The climate problem cannot be solved by scientists alone. It just can’t be solved by contacts. It can’t just be solved by artists—certainly not it will just be solved by the artists. But everyone has an important role.”

Showing the audience with his award in hand, he added, “I see myself and all of us just getting started in this project. This is not the only thing. This is just the beginning of something that I hope we will all work together on.”

The award was given to fellow artist Kat Graham, who was honored in the 2024 TIME100 Next for fighting for the rights of refugees. Graham, who is also an actor known for his work The Vampire Diarieshe credited Met with “using his access to the right room” and “talking to the right people.”

At the 2023 TIME100 Next gala, Tom Steyer, former president of the Democratic Alliance in 2020, accepted the World Medal for his work in the area of ​​investments aimed at accelerating climate solutions and his efforts to encourage youth voting. Other recipients of the Earth Award include actor Mark Ruffalo, actress Jane Fonda, former US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The TIME100 Next Gala is presented by Toyota, Discover Puerto Rico, Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and FIJI Water.