Philip Rosedale
CTO of Second Life | Founder of Linden Lab | Co-Founder of High Fidelity | Metaverse Pioneer
Jeremy Rifkin
Bestselling Author & Economic Theorist | Advisor to the EU & China | Pioneer of the Third Industrial Revolution
Jeremy Rifkin has done what few thinkers ever manage: moved governments. The architect of the EU's and China's green economic transition, he has advised heads of state across three continents and authored 23 international bestsellers. His talks equip senior leaders with the systemic frameworks needed to navigate energy transitions, economic disruption, and the accelerating climate crisis — turning macro complexity into strategic clarity.
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Jeremy Rifkin biography
Jeremy Rifkin is one of the most consequential economic and social thinkers of our era — an author, theorist, political advisor, and activist whose ideas have literally reshaped the policy blueprints of entire continents. President of the Foundation on Economic Trends, Rifkin has spent five decades at the intersection of science, economics, and society, producing 23 bestselling books translated into more than 35 languages.
Sustainability speaker Jeremy Rifkin is best known for pioneering the concept of the Third Industrial Revolution — the convergence of renewable energy, digital communication infrastructure, and the Internet of Things into a new economic paradigm. His work provided the foundational blueprint for the European Union’s long-term climate and economic transition strategy, and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang adopted his framework as the core of the country’s Thirteenth Five-Year Plan. As EurActiv noted, few thinkers have shaped EU energy and climate policy more profoundly.
Rifkin has served as a senior economic advisor to the European Commission since 2000, counseling three successive presidents — Romano Prodi, José Manuel Barroso, and Jean-Claude Juncker — and the current Commission under Ursula von der Leyen. He also advised Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer on the U.S. infrastructure framework and holds a place among the top ten most influential economic thinkers in The Huffington Post‘s global survey.
Planet Aqua and the New Climate Paradigm
His most recent book, Planet Aqua: Rethinking Our Home in the Universe (2024), represents a major evolution in climate thinking. Rifkin argues that humanity has fundamentally misunderstood Earth — treating it as a land planet when it is, in truth, a water planet — and that our accelerating hydrological crisis demands a complete rethinking of how civilization adapts. Endorsed by Sir Richard Branson, former Unilever CEO Paul Polman, and leading climate scientist Johan Rockström, Planet Aqua is already shaping the EU’s emerging Blue Deal framework. Earlier landmark titles include The Age of Resilience (2022), The Green New Deal (2019), The Zero Marginal Cost Society (2014), and The End of Work (1995), among many others. His 2018 documentary on the Third Industrial Revolution premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and has surpassed 5.6 million views on YouTube.
As a speaker, Jeremy Rifkin delivers something rare: a grand, evidence-grounded vision of where civilization is heading and what organizations must do to stay ahead of it. Senior audiences — from Fortune 500 boardrooms to heads of state — value his ability to connect macro-level systemic shifts to practical strategic decisions. Whether addressing the collapse of fossil fuel economies, the rise of the collaborative commons, or the hydrological disruptions that will define the coming decades, Rifkin challenges leaders to think across time horizons that most overlook, and equips them with frameworks to act with clarity and conviction.
Jeremy Rifkin Speaking Videos
Jeremy Rifkin - The Third Industrial Revolution: A Radical New Sharing Economy
Jeremy Rifkin - The Zero Marginal Cost Society
Jeremy Rifkin Keynote Topics
The global economy is entering a profound structural shift — one driven by the convergence of renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and the Internet of Things. In this keynote, Rifkin maps the architecture of this new economic era, explains why legacy industries face existential disruption, and outlines how governments, cities, and corporations can position themselves at the frontier of a more sustainable and resilient economy. Drawing on his advisory work with the EU and China, he offers a sweeping yet actionable view of where the economy is going and what leaders must do to lead the transition rather than survive it.
A quiet revolution is underway: the marginal cost of producing and distributing goods and services is approaching zero across entire sectors. This keynote explores how that phenomenon is giving rise to a new economic logic — the Collaborative Commons — built on sharing, open access, and distributed production. Rifkin examines what this shift means for traditional business models, competition, and value creation, and how forward-looking organizations can design strategies for a world where the old rules of scarcity no longer apply.
Climate change is not just a carbon story — it is a water story. In his most recent and far-reaching work, Rifkin reframes the climate crisis through the lens of the planetary hydrosphere: the floods, megadroughts, and extreme weather events that are already disrupting supply chains, agriculture, cities, and entire economies. This keynote challenges audiences to abandon the illusion of controlling nature and embrace a new posture of planetary adaptation — with profound implications for infrastructure investment, corporate risk strategy, and long-term resilience planning.
The fossil fuel civilization is not simply declining — it is structurally collapsing, and faster than most institutions are prepared for. Rifkin explains the economic and geopolitical forces driving this transition, why stranded assets are becoming a systemic risk, and how the Green New Deal framework offers a pathway to a post-carbon economy that generates growth rather than sacrificing it. For executives and policymakers, this keynote provides both the diagnostic and the strategic map for navigating one of the most consequential economic transitions in history.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Jeremy Rifkin
Why Jeremy Rifkin?
Booking Jeremy Rifkin as a keynote speaker is a strategic investment for any organization navigating the twin challenges of economic transformation and climate disruption. As the architect of the EU's and China's Third Industrial Revolution transition plans, Rifkin brings unmatched credibility and a 50-year track record of predicting — and influencing — the direction of the global economy. His talks go beyond trend-spotting: they give senior leaders a coherent, actionable framework for understanding where the economy is heading and how to position their organizations for long-term resilience. Few speakers can claim they have shaped the policy direction of two continents. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you secure Jeremy Rifkin for your next event.
What is Jeremy Rifkin's Third Industrial Revolution?
The Third Industrial Revolution is Rifkin's framework for a new economic era built on the convergence of renewable energy, digital communication, and the Internet of Things. In this model, millions of individuals, businesses, and communities generate their own green energy and share it across intelligent networks — much the way information flows freely across the internet. This vision became the official long-term economic development plan of the European Union and shaped China's Thirteenth Five-Year Plan. Rifkin argues it represents the most significant economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution itself.
What is Jeremy Rifkin's latest book, Planet Aqua, about?
Published in 2024, Planet Aqua: Rethinking Our Home in the Universe argues that humanity has operated under a fundamental misconception — believing we live on a land planet when Earth is, at its core, a water planet. As climate change violently reshapes the hydrosphere through floods, droughts, and extreme weather, Rifkin calls for a civilizational shift: from engineering the water cycle to serve human ends, to adapting human society to the rhythms of the planetary water system. The book is endorsed by Sir Richard Branson, Paul Polman, and leading climate scientists, and is already informing the EU's Blue Deal policy agenda.
What topics does sustainability speaker Jeremy Rifkin cover?
Jeremy Rifkin speaks on economic transformation, the future of energy, climate resilience, the Third Industrial Revolution, the Zero Marginal Cost Society, the Green New Deal, the collaborative commons, and — most recently — the planetary water crisis and its implications for business and governance. His keynotes are tailored for senior executive audiences, government leaders, and organizations undergoing strategic transformation. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you customize Jeremy Rifkin's engagement to align with your event's specific priorities.
How to book Jeremy Rifkin as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Jeremy Rifkin as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Jeremy Rifkin's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Jeremy Rifkin or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Jeremy Rifkin speaking fee?
Jeremy Rifkin speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Jeremy Rifkin to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Jeremy Rifkin.
How can I contact Jeremy Rifkin?
We only work with Jeremy Rifkin on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Jeremy Rifkin and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Jeremy Rifkin speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Jeremy Rifkin for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Jeremy Rifkin for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Jeremy Rifkin is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Jeremy Rifkin for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
