17 September 2021
Over the last ten years, the evidence that we face urgent challenges to protect the environment has become indisputable, and it’s clear that the time to act is now.
In response, The Royal Foundation and Prince William launched The Earthshot Prize, the most prestigious global prize for the environment in history in 2020.
Over the course of the next decade, The Earthshot Prize will find the most inspiring solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. These new solutions will work on every level, have a positive effect on environmental change and improve living standards globally, particularly for communities who are most at risk from climate change.
An awards ceremony will take place in different cities across the world each year between 2021 and 2030, at which the five winners for each of the Earthshots will be selected from 15 finalists. The first awards ceremony will take place in London in autumn 2021.
INSPIRING FINALISTS + GAME-CHANGING SOLUTIONS
The search for the inaugural Finalists began in November 2020, when nominations opened and were submitted by over 200 official Earthshot Prize Nominators from every region of the world. These Nominators were selected for their experience in environmental research, policy, advocacy and grassroots action, as well as their global networks with individuals, teams and organisations who are leading on solutions to these environmental challenges.
After an unprecedented global search for the most innovative solutions to the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet, the first cohort of Earthshot Prize Finalists was announced on 17 September 2021.
Over 750 nominations – far more than anticipated for The Earthshot Prize’s first year – were received from every continent from the diverse coalition of 200 official Earthshot Prize nominators. Over the course of almost a year, the nominations were narrowed to 15 Finalists through a rigorous selection process, culminating with an assessment from an Expert Advisory Panel of scientific, academic, and environmental leaders.
Each of the Finalist’s solutions excelled in the selection process and were assessed on their potential to create game-changing impact around the world, their ability to help reach the Earthshot goals while also positively impacting people, communities and the natural world.
The Earthshot Prize Finalists for 2021 are:
Protect and Restore Nature:
Pole Pole Foundation, Democratic Republic of Congo: An inspiring community-led model of conservation that protects gorillas and local livelihoods.
The Republic of Costa Rica: A pioneering scheme paying local citizens to restore natural ecosystems that has led to a revival of the rainforest.
Restor, Switzerland: A ground-breaking online platform connecting and empowering local conservation projects.
Clean our Air:
The Blue Map App, China: China’s first public environmental database enabling citizens to hold polluters to account.
Takachar, India: A pioneering technology to create profitable products from agricultural waste and put a stop to the burning of crops.
Vinisha Umashankar, India: A 14-year-old innovator and activist who has designed a solar-powered ironing cart with the potential to improve air quality across India.
Revive our Oceans:
Coral Vita, Bahamas: A truly cutting-edge breakthrough in coral farming that can restore our world’s dying coral reefs.
Living Seawalls, Australia: Innovative and replicable seawall panels bringing marine life back to coastal sea defences.
Pristine Seas, USA: An unprecedented global conservation programme protecting 6.5 million square km of the world’s ocean.
Build a Waste-Free World:
The City of Milan Food Waste Hubs, Italy: A city-wide initiative that has dramatically cut waste while tackling hunger.
Sanergy, Kenya: A circular sanitation solution that converts human waste into safe products for local farmers.
WOTA BOX, Japan: A tiny water treatment plant that turns 98% of wastewater into clean water.
Fix our Climate:
AEM Electrolyser, Thailand: An ingenious green hydrogen technology developed to transform how we power our homes and buildings.
Reeddi Capsules, Nigeria: Solar-powered energy capsules making electricity affordable and accessible in energy-poor communities.
SOLbazaar, Bangladesh: The world’s first peer-to-peer energy exchange network in a country on the front-line of climate change.
The first-ever Earthshot Prize awards ceremony will take place on October 17, 2021, at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London, with other famous landmarks across the UK’s capital city also part of the historic event.
Broadcast to a global audience, the awards ceremony will celebrate the global Finalists before awarding the first five Winners of The Earthshot Prize. These top five solutions will have the greatest impact on the biggest environmental challenges facing our planet and the Winners will each receive £1 million to scale their solutions.
*Source: The Earthshot Prize and the Royal Foundation
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