The Prince of Wales has announced the five winners of this year’s Earthshot Prize, describing them as “an inspiration that gives us courage”. During the awards ceremony at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow, Prince William said their work showed that “progress is possible”.
Winners include a project that makes South America’s Atlantic Forest financially sustainable and a global ocean treaty aiming to protect marine life. Brazilian football icon Cafu, Olympic gymnast Rebeca Andrade, and former Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel helped present the awards.
Pop star Kylie Minogue thrilled the crowd with a medley of hits, including Padam Padam and Can’t Get You Out of My Head. Singer Shawn Mendes and Brazil’s pop queen Anitta added to the celebration’s energy.
Global mission to heal the planet
The Earthshot Prize supports projects that protect the environment and awards each of the five winners £1 million to expand their efforts. The initiative draws inspiration from former US President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot project, which once challenged scientists to land on the Moon and return safely.
The event, hosted by Brazilian broadcaster Luciano Huck, featured a speech from Prince William, the president of the Earthshot Prize. Political guests included UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
“When I founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020, we had a 10-year goal to transform our world for the better,” Prince William said. “We set out to face environmental issues directly and make lasting changes that protect life on Earth.”
The five Earthshot goals are Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate. Rio marks the halfway point in this decade-long journey.
From 72 countries to five winners
This year’s awards attracted nearly 2,500 nominations from 72 nations. Fifteen finalists were shortlisted before the final five winners were chosen.
Earthshot Prize 2025 – The winners
Protect and Restore Nature: re.green from Brazil is making the protection of the Atlantic Forest financially viable.
Clean Our Air: The city of Bogotá is improving air quality through clean-air zones and re-greening projects.
Revive Our Oceans: The High Seas Treaty will set out global measures to conserve marine life from January 2026.
Build a Waste-Free World: Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria promotes sustainability by requiring designers to prove eco-friendly practices.
Fix Our Climate: Friendship in Bangladesh supports vulnerable communities with health, education, and disaster preparation.
Thiago Picolo, CEO of re.green, said winning validated their mission. “It helps us know we’re going in the right direction and opens doors with banks and investors,” he said.
Prince William praises global innovators
Prince William called the winners “innovators” and described the Earthshot Prize as “a mission driven by extraordinary optimism”. He said there was much to learn from their determination, vision, and belief in a better world.
Christiana Figueres, chair of the Earthshot board of trustees, praised the winners for creating “a global legacy”. “Their collective action born here in Rio is stronger and more determined than ever,” she said. “Their ambition for 2030 is vast, but their achievements and tenacity fuel optimism.”
A royal visit with a purpose
Earlier on Wednesday, Prince William met the 15 finalists at the Christ the Redeemer statue, recreating a photo his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, took 34 years ago. Much of his five-day visit to Brazil has focused on climate and environmental issues.
On Tuesday, he criticised illegal deforestation during a speech at the United for Wildlife conference. He also visited Paquetá Island, where he met residents, learned about mangrove restoration, and planted trees.
Prince William will continue his environmental mission on Thursday with a visit to Belém in the Amazon rainforest, where he is scheduled to speak at COP30, the UN’s annual climate summit.
