Earthshot Prize Winners Announced in Rio

Earthshot Prize Hails ‘Action Heroes’ in Rio as Global Innovators Secure £1m Grants

In a vibrant ceremony pulsating with samba rhythms at a gala in Rio de Janeiro, five global innovators received the 2025 Earthshot Prize, securing £1 million each to amplify their groundbreaking environmental solutions. The event, hosted within the architecturally stunning Museum of Tomorrow, signified the midway point of Prince William's decade-long initiative to mend the planet. He celebrated the winners, calling them a source of inspiration and proof that advancements can be made. Since founding the prestigious environmental award in 2020, the Prince of Wales has aimed to make the current decade a period of profound positive transformation for the world. His vision, he explained, was to confront ecological challenges directly, fostering genuine, enduring changes to safeguard existence on our planet for future generations.

A Star-Studded Ceremony in Rio

The celebrated occasion, the first time the prize has been held in Latin America, drew a host of international stars and dignitaries. Pop sensations Shawn Mendes and Kylie Minogue provided musical performances, adding a flourish to the evening. Presenters included the legendary Brazilian footballer Cafu, retired Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel, and decorated Olympian Rebeca Andrade. In attendance were prominent figures such as London's Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, the Prime Minister of the UK, Sir Keir Starmer, and Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary. The gathering underscored the global significance of the initiative and the collective urgency to address the planet's mounting environmental crises, positioning Brazil at the forefront of the international climate agenda.

A 'Moonshot' for the Planet

The conceptual framework for this environmental prize finds its roots in the ambitious "Moonshot" project from John F. Kennedy, a former American president, which galvanised a nation to land astronauts on the moon. Prince William has channelled this spirit of audacious ambition towards terrestrial challenges. He established five clear, actionable goals, known as 'Earthshots'. The objectives form the award categories, which include Building a World Free of Waste, Reviving Our Oceans, Cleaning Our Air, Fixing Our Climate, and Protecting and Restoring Nature. This initiative is not merely about recognising achievement but is designed as a decade of concerted action. It aims to convene environmental experts with funders, businesses, and individuals to maximise impact, scale up solutions, and inspire a global movement dedicated to planetary repair.

A Field of Global Innovators

The selection process for the 2025 awards was intensely competitive, reflecting a growing global commitment to environmental innovation. Organisers sifted through nearly 2,500 nominations originating from 72 different countries, a testament to the prize's expanding reach and influence. From this extensive pool of applicants, a shortlist of 15 finalists was chosen, each representing exceptional leadership and ingenuity in their respective fields. The rigorous evaluation culminated in the selection of the five ultimate victors, whose projects were deemed to hold the most promise for significant, scalable impact. Each finalist, even those not selected for the top prize, will receive tailored support to help them further develop their groundbreaking work, ensuring a lasting legacy of innovation.

Championing Sustainable Fashion in Nigeria

For the category of Building a World Free of Waste, the award was bestowed upon Lagos Fashion Week, an event in Nigeria. This dynamic platform is actively reshaping the fashion industry. It mandates that all participating designers must demonstrate a dedication to sustainable methods. This bold stance challenges the pervasive culture of fast fashion, which often results in significant environmental degradation and waste. By championing circularity, traditional craftsmanship, and locally sourced materials, this fashion week is fostering a new creative ecosystem. It proves that style and sustainability can coexist, setting a powerful precedent for fashion capitals around the world and promoting a more conscious and responsible approach to an industry with a substantial global footprint.

Securing the Future of Marine Life

For the 'Revive Our Oceans' Earthshot, the victor was The High Seas Treaty. It is a landmark global initiative for protecting marine biodiversity. This crucial international agreement will establish clear and enforceable protocols to preserve life in the vast stretches of ocean that lie beyond national jurisdictions, which have historically been vulnerable to exploitation and neglect. The treaty, scheduled to be implemented starting in January of 2026, represents a monumental step forward in ocean governance. It provides a legal framework for creating marine protected areas, conducting environmental impact assessments, and ensuring the equitable sharing of marine genetic resources. This collaborative effort is vital for safeguarding the health and resilience of our shared global seas.

Building Resilience in Bangladesh

In the 'Fix Our Climate' category, the award went to Friendship, a non-governmental organisation making a profound impact in Bangladesh. This group is committed to helping at-risk populations throughout the nation, which is exceptionally susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events. Friendship provides comprehensive support, ranging from improving the availability of public services and healthcare to advancing education and helping communities prepare for when natural disasters strike. Their holistic, needs-based approach empowers local populations to adapt to their changing environment and build more resilient futures. The organisation's work is a powerful example of community-led climate adaptation, focusing on the human dimension of the global climate crisis.

Bogotá's Breath of Fresh Air

Bogotá, Colombia's capital, was awarded in the 'Clean Our Air' category. Recognition was given for its effective demonstration of how progressive government strategy is able to drive lasting and positive environmental change. Bogotá has implemented a series of ambitious initiatives, including the establishment of areas designated for clean air that restrict vehicle emissions and a significant programme of re-greening degraded urban areas. These efforts have not only improved air quality for millions of residents but have also enhanced public spaces and biodiversity within the city. Bogotá's success provides an inspiring and replicable model for other major metropolitan areas worldwide that are grappling with the pervasive problem of urban air pollution and its detrimental effects on public health.

Restoring Brazil’s Vital Atlantic Forest

Closer to the ceremony's home, the award for the 'Protect and Restore Nature' category went to re.green, a Brazilian organisation with a mission to make conserving the Atlantic Forest a financially sound endeavor. This vital ecosystem, while less famous than the Amazon, is among the most biodiverse and threatened biomes on the planet, running along Brazil's eastern coast. The group is pioneering large-scale landscape restoration by connecting landowners, investors, and local communities through an innovative business model. This approach ensures that restoring and protecting the forest provides tangible economic benefits, creating a powerful incentive for conservation. Thiago Picolo, the leader of re.green, stated that securing the prize validates the organisation's path and will greatly facilitate crucial conversations with banks and corporate partners.

Image Credit  - by Number 10, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Mission of Optimism and Action

Prince William described the environmental prize as a mission propelled by extraordinary optimism. He stressed that much could be gleaned from the determination and vision of the winners, coupled with their firm conviction in our ability to create an improved world. Christiana Figueres, who is chair for the board of trustees, echoed this sentiment. She spoke of forging a worldwide legacy and asserted that the victors are evidence that the cooperative spirit is growing more powerful, more resolute, and more pressing than previously. While acknowledging that the 2030 aims of the projects are incredibly ambitious, her optimism is fuelled by their impactful achievements so far, their detailed plans for the future, and their remarkable tenacity.

Echoes of the Past, Focus on the Future

Prince William’s trip to Brazil, which lasted five days, was largely concentrated on environmental and climate-related issues. Before the awards ceremony, he met with all 15 finalists at the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer. There, in a poignant moment, he was photographed standing in the same location where his mother, Diana, the late Princess of Wales, had been pictured 34 years earlier during her visit in 1991. A palace spokesperson noted that the Prince was incredibly struck by the number of people who fondly remembered his mother's trip to the city. This moment of reflection connected a personal family history with his public mission, bridging the past with his urgent focus on securing a sustainable future for the next generation.

A Stand Against Environmental Crime

Earlier in his trip, the prince delivered a powerful speech during an address at a United for Wildlife conference. He vehemently criticised the criminals involved in the extensive destruction of the Amazonian rainforest, a crisis with global implications. He highlighted that this illicit activity fuels violence, corruption, and distorts legitimate economies, negatively impacting the livelihoods of millions. The conference, which featured a video message from actor Leonardo DiCaprio urging world leaders to unite with courage, marked a significant moment in the fight against environmental crime. Prince William announced an ambitious new partnership aimed at enhancing protections for Indigenous peoples and nature protectors across the Brazilian Amazon, acknowledging that their stewardship has kept deforestation rates in their lands significantly lower than in unprotected areas.

Engaging with Local Conservation

The royal's itinerary also included a trip to Paqueta, a small island that is a tranquil, car-free location in Guanabara Bay. There, he met with local residents and learned firsthand about crucial mangrove conservation efforts. Mangroves are vital ecosystems that protect coastlines, sequester large amounts of carbon, and serve as nurseries for marine life. He actively participated in the planting of tree saplings, a symbolic and practical gesture of support for the community's environmental work. This hands-on engagement demonstrated a commitment to understanding and supporting grassroots conservation initiatives, which are often at the forefront of protecting the planet's most fragile and important habitats from the impacts of climate change and human development.

The Road to COP30 in the Amazon

The culmination of the Prince's visit to Brazil was a trip to Belem, a city located where the Amazon River meets the sea. This city is the designated host for COP30, the United Nations' yearly climate summit. His scheduled speech at this critical summit underscores the importance of the environmental prize in the broader context of global climate negotiations. COP30 is seen as a pivotal moment, as nations will be expected to present new and more ambitious national climate plans. Holding the summit within the Amazon region highlights the urgent need to protect the world's largest tropical rainforest, a crucial regulator of the global climate that is facing immense pressure from deforestation and fires.

Brazil’s Environmental Crossroads

Hosting both the environmental prize and COP30 places Brazil at the epicentre of the global climate conversation, but the nation faces its own complex environmental challenges. While recent government figures show an 11 per cent decrease in deforestation within the Amazon region, the country is simultaneously experiencing a surge in wildfires, exacerbated by a severe drought. This paradox highlights the immense difficulty of balancing economic development with environmental protection. The country's reliance on agriculture and other industries often conflicts with conservation goals. The international community will be watching closely to see how Brazil navigates these pressures and whether it can translate its ambition to be a global climate leader into concrete, sustained action on the ground.

A Beacon of Hope in a Modern Marvel

The choice of Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow as the venue for the awards ceremony was highly symbolic. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the building is a marvel of sustainable design, featuring solar panels and using water from the adjacent bay for its cooling systems. Its very structure is a statement about the future and humanity's relationship with the planet. The museum’s exhibits focus on the Anthropocene era, where human activity is the dominant influence on the environment, and it poses fundamental questions about where humanity is heading. It provided a fitting and inspiring backdrop for an evening dedicated to celebrating the innovators who are actively working to answer those questions with hope, ingenuity, and a commitment to action.