The Prince of Wales has called the finalists of his global Earthshot Prize “heroes of our time”. Next month, Prince William will travel to Rio de Janeiro for the award ceremony, marking the first time the event takes place in Latin America. The prize, launched five years ago, rewards five projects each year with £1 million for groundbreaking environmental innovation.
Global recognition for green pioneers
This year’s competition drew nearly 2,500 nominees from 72 countries. The winners will be chosen by Prince William and the Earthshot Prize Council, which includes actor Cate Blanchett and Queen Rania of Jordan. The list of finalists spans from national initiatives to small start-ups. The Earthshot Prize runs over a decade, with previous ceremonies in London, Boston, Singapore and Cape Town. Kensington Palace confirmed that this year’s main event will be held on 5 November at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow.
Bold ideas from across the world
Barbados earned a nomination for its global leadership in climate action. The island aims to become fully fossil-free by 2030. The Chinese city of Guangzhou made the shortlist in the “Clean our Air” category for electrifying its public transport network. Prince William has said he hopes to bring the Earthshot Prize to China in the future. Another finalist, Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower, stands out as the world’s first fully “upcycled skyscraper”. Built from an older structure, the tower was redesigned by a coalition of architects, engineers and developers to avoid demolition and reduce carbon waste.
British innovation makes waves
The United Kingdom also appears on the finalist list. Bristol-based company “Matter” developed a washing machine filter that removes microplastics—the largest source of such pollution in the oceans. Founder Adam Root compared a potential win to “an Olympic gold medal”. Reflecting on the past five years in a video message, Prince William shared his personal motivation. “Back then, a decade felt a long time. George was seven, Charlotte five, and Louis two. The thought of them in 2030 felt a lifetime away,” he said. “But today, as we stand halfway through this critical decade, 2030 feels very real.”
A call to action for the planet
Prince William warned that 2030 is a decisive moment. “It is the threshold by which future generations will judge us,” he said. “The people behind these projects are heroes of our time. Let us back them, because if we do, we can make the world cleaner, safer and full of opportunity—not only for future generations, but for the lives we want to lead now.”
A global network for change
The Earthshot Prize has become a cornerstone of Prince William’s public work. “He has built an unprecedented network of organisations,” said Jason Knauf, the new CEO of the prize. “Philanthropists, corporations, and global leaders are working together in a way never seen before. Prince William has been relentless in building that community.”
This year’s Earthshot events in Rio will take place ahead of the COP Climate Conference in Belem, located on the edge of the Amazon Rainforest.
