Prince William has announced the first-ever Finalists of The Earthshot Prize, each representing a ‘ground-breaking and innovative solution to the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet’.
The shortlist of 15 Finalists will each have a chance of winning £1 million 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.”
Each of the Finalist’s solutions excelled in the rigorous screening process and were assessed on their potential to create game-changing impact around the world, their ability to help us reach our Earthshot goals while also positively impacting people, communities and the natural world.
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
All 15 Finalists will receive tailored support and resources from The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members, a network of private sector businesses around the world who will help scale their solutions to realise an even greater impact with their ground-breaking work. Last year, WRAP was named a Global Alliance Partner.
Over 750 nominations were screened as part of an independent assessment process run by Deloitte, the Prize’s implementation partner, who ensured that all nominations were assessed fairly and thoroughly, by an experienced sustainability team.
Longlisted nominations were then assessed by a global Expert Advisory Panel – a crucial stage in the selection process that adds a further layer of independence and rigour, bringing together expertise from science, conservation, innovation, investment, economics, politics, communications and activism.
Five of these 15 Finalists announced today will be awarded The Earthshot Prize and will win £ 1 million 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+
Build a Waste-free World finalists
THE CITY OF MILAN FOOD WASTE HUBS
The City of Milan’s Food Waste Hubs tackle two problems in one. Launched in 2019 with the aim of halving waste by 2030, each hub recovers food mainly from supermarkets and companies’ canteens and gives it to NGOs who distribute it to the neediest citizens.
SANERGY
A sanitation and waste management crisis is unfolding across the developing world as booming cities struggle with a deluge of waste. With urban centres outgrowing sewage systems, the world needs clean, cost-effective ways to process organic waste. Enter Sanergy.
anergy serves 140,000 residents daily and removes 20,000 tonnes of waste per year. It also combats food insecurity. Sanergy’s organic fertilizer and insect protein for animal feed boosts farming volumes by up to 30%, helping farmers meet the needs of expanding populations.
WOTA BOX
Nearly 40 percent of the world’s population is on track to experience “water stress” by 2050. Climate change and population growth are already driving shortages across the world.
WOTA, a Japanese start-up, wants to improve water security by helping people reuse wastewater. Founded in 2014, the company’s first product, WOTA BOX, is the only solution of its kind, turning more than 98 percent of water waste into clean fresh water.
A fraction of the size of a typical water treatment plant, and over 50 times more efficient, WOTA BOX can be delivered at scale. Plus, installation requires no existing infrastructure.
