In a video announcement from the grand halls of Windsor Castle, Prince William unveiled the 15 finalists for his renowned Earthshot Prize.
This prestigious award, now in its fourth year, continues to uncover and champion the most exciting and impactful solutions to the planet’s pressing environmental challenges.
Prince William announces Earthshot Award finalists
Addressing the world with a sense of optimism and purpose, the future King of England expressed his delight at introducing these remarkable innovators.
“These solutions are some of the most exciting, innovative and impactful we’ve seen, and the people behind them are true inspirations,” he declared with enthusiasm.
The announcement was made at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit in New York City, co-hosted by The Earthshot Prize and Bloomberg Philanthropies. As the event took place, Prince Harry, William’s brother, was in New York City.
This year’s finalists hail from 139 countries, the largest pool of applicants in the prize’s history. They are leading the charge in finding scalable solutions to combat the world’s most pressing environmental crises, from restoring nature and reviving our oceans to cleaning our air and building a waste-free future.
Among the finalists are three representatives from the United States, showcasing the global reach and diversity of the Earthshot Prize.
Natural Fiber Welding is creating biodegradable materials to replace plastics, while Equatic and Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems are tackling the urgent issue of climate change through innovative carbon capture and heat recycling technologies.
“Representing every corner of the globe, these finalists are leading the way in solving some of the most urgent environmental challenges,” the Earthshot Prize organization affirmed in a statement. “Their groundbreaking work is inspiring hope and action as we work to create a sustainable future for generations to come.”
Fifteen extraordinary solutions.
Five Earthshot challenges.
One shared mission: to repair and restore our planet.Introducing The Earthshot Prize Finalists for 2024: https://t.co/BzUlEE343W pic.twitter.com/opbFdJd6dV
— The Earthshot Prize (@EarthshotPrize) September 24, 2024
The impressive roster of finalists is evaluated by a prestigious council that includes luminaries such as Queen Rania of Jordan, renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough, and culinary icon José Andrés.
These esteemed judges will determine the ultimate winners, who will each receive a life-changing £1 million prize to scale their transformative initiatives.