Prince William announces 15 Finalists for inaugural year of the £50 million Earthshot Prize
17.9.2021 20:01:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
The Earthshot Prize announces today its first-ever shortlist of 15 Finalists, each with a chance of winning £1million to support their innovative environmental solutions to the greatest challenges facing the planet.
Prince William said: "Over half a century ago, President Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot’ programme united millions of people around the goal of reaching the moon. Inspired by this, The Earthshot Prize aims to mobilise collective action around our unique ability to innovate, problem solve and repair our planet.
“I am honoured to introduce the 15 innovators, leaders, and visionaries who are the first ever Finalists for The Earthshot Prize. They are working with the urgency required in this decisive decade for life on Earth and will inspire all of us with their optimism in our ability to rise to the greatest challenges in human history.”
Launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in October 2020, The Earthshot Prize is the most prestigious global environment prize in history. Like President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot’ did almost 60 years ago, the Prize aims to unleash an unprecedented wave of innovation and leadership to tackle our greatest environmental challenges. The Earthshot Prize will be awarded every year for the next decade, discovering a total of 50 Winners.
Five of these 15 Finalists will be awarded The Earthshot Prize and will win £1million in Prize funding for the best solutions of the five Earthshot goals: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean our Air; Revive our Oceans; Build a Waste-free World; and Fix our Climate. The Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony on 17th October from London’s Alexandra Palace, broadcast in the UK on BBC One and globally on Discovery+.
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/Germany/Italy
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.
All 15 Finalists will receive support from The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members, an unprecedented network of global businesses, who will help scale their solutions for even greater impact.
Of these 15 Finalists, the five Winners will be selected by The Earthshot Prize Council, a diverse team of influential individuals which includes: HRH Prince William, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Sir David Attenborough, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Indra Nooyi, Shakira Mebarak, Christiana Figueres, Luisa Neubauer, Cate Blanchett, Yao Ming, Daniel Alves Da Silva, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Jack Ma, and Naoko Yamazaki.
In the run-up to the prize-giving ceremony on 17 October, BBC and Discovery will release a 5-part documentary series THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE: REPAIRING OUR PLANET, featuring Earthshot Prize Council Members including Prince William, Shakira Mebarak, Daniel Alves Da Silva and Sir David Attenborough.
For more information about the Finalists and The Earthshot Prize, visit: www.earthshotprize.org, email Claire Straw: TEPmedia@freuds.com, download media pack here.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210917005454/en/
Contact information
Claire Straw:
TEPmedia@freuds.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
REJO brings CUBE modular device to Japan in its global premiere16.2.2026 04:00:00 EET | Press release
REJO, a pioneering global provider of heat-not-burn (HNB) solutions, today announced the global debut of REJO CUBE, its latest modular HNB device, in Japan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260215596376/en/ REJO CUBE DEVICE-Product Infographic Breaking away from conventional HNB design norms, REJO CUBE introduces a bold new device option featuring a trendy design and dual-mode inhalation experience, launching on Japan’s major e-commerce retail channels from February 16. This launch marks the brand’s latest move following REJO Mate Air’s introduction in Japan in July 2025, when the device’s compact design, smooth mouthfeel, and Puff Twice feature won widespread acclaim among local adult users. REJO CUBE speak for REJO’s ongoing commitment to placing user experience at the core of its research and development effort, bringing kit flexibility with modular design, deep user engagement with interactive features, and
Sultan bin Ahmed Visits Shanghai Film Studios, Film Park and Stadium15.2.2026 21:24:00 EET | Press release
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, visited the 800,000-square-metre Shanghai Film Studios and Film Park in the town of Shidon in the Chinese city of Shanghai on Saturday. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260215440594/en/ Sultan bin Ahmed visits Shanghai Film Studios, Film Park and Stadium (Photo: AETOSWire) His Highness watched a video outlining the specifications of the Shanghai studios, which comprise 4 professional studios ranging in size from 800 to 3000 square metres, a large costume warehouse, production support facilities, classic cars, and an integrated set of production services. His Highness was briefed on the work produced using artificial intelligence technologies. He toured the sound recording rooms, image quality control, editing and post-production facilities, and listened to an explanation on the developme
Estithmar Holding Establishes “Estithmar Capital” for Financial Investment Management15.2.2026 19:45:00 EET | Press release
Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C. announced today the establishment of its fifth group, “Estithmar Capital,” in a strategic step aimed at strengthening the company’s expansion and diversifying the sectors in which it operates. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260215458570/en/ Estithmar Holding Establishes “Estithmar Capital” for Financial Investment Management (Photo: AETOSWire) Estithmar Capital will specialize in managing financial investments, strengthening institutional governance, and operating under clear frameworks for compliance, regulation, and risk management, reflecting Estithmar Holding’s vision for sustainability and responsible, well-structured growth. The establishment of Estithmar Capital supports Estithmar Holding’s broader strategy of diversifying financial assets, improving capital efficiency, and unifying governance practices across various markets. Through a centralized and disciplined approach, t
Align Partners Issues Third Public Shareholder Letter and Submits Formal Shareholder Proposals to Coway14.2.2026 13:31:00 EET | Press release
Align Partners Capital Management Inc. (“Align Partners”), a shareholder of Coway Co., Ltd. (“Coway” or the “Company”), has submitted formal shareholder proposals for the Company’s upcoming 37th Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) and issued its third public shareholder letter to Coway’s Board of Directors. Coway is South Korea’s leading home appliance rental platform, supported by a strong global brand and sales network. Since Netmarble became the largest shareholder in 2020, Coway has delivered steady operating growth, with revenue and operating profit increasing at compound annual rates of 8.9% and 7.7%, respectively, reaching KRW 5.0 trillion in revenue and KRW 878.7 billion in operating profit in 2025. However, Coway’s share price remains materially undervalued, declining 16% from 2019 levels as of February 6, 2026, despite a 155% increase in the KOSPI 200 index over the same period. Over this period, valuation multiples have also compressed significantly, with NTM PER declining from 1
HM King Mohammed VI Presides Over the Launch Ceremony of the Aircraft Landing Gear Production Plant Project, Representing an Investment of €280 million by the Safran Group in Morocco13.2.2026 22:10:00 EET | Press release
His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, chaired on Friday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca the presentation and launch ceremony of the project to build a landing gear production factory for Safran in Nouaceur, a project that reinforces Morocco as a destination of choice and a true integrated industrial actor at the heart of the global economy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260213269786/en/ His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, chaired on Friday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca the presentation and launch ceremony of the project to build a landing gear production factory for Safran in Nouaceur Considered one of the largest manufacturing centres in the world for Safran Landing Systems, the plant will represent an investment of more than EUR 280 million, create 500 jobs, and operate on 100% decarbonised energ
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom