EDITORS DESK

Last Sept. 19, 2023, Prince William and The Earthshot Prize announced the 15 finalists for this year’s prize during the second Earthshot Innovation Summit in New York. The 15 innovators honored as Earthshot finalists represent six continents and were chosen from more than 1,100 nominees. Each finalist will be in the running to receive one of the five £1 million prizes to be awarded at the third annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony set to take place in Singapore this November.

Among the distinguished 15, the Philippines is proudly represented in the person of Rocky Sanchez Tirona. She is part of non-profit organization Rare, whose project called “Coastal 500” — a global network of mayors and local leaders who have come together to protect the world’s coastlines — is among the finalists in the “Revive Our Oceans” category.   

According to a statement, “Coastal 500 has 164 members representing eight developing countries and 1.6 million people living near coastlines across the tropics, including some of the communities most at risk from climate change worldwide. Right now, members hail from the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, the Federated State of Micronesia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mozambique, and Palau.”

Rocky Sanchez Tirona

“Since its inception in 2021, the quickly growing group has become a vital forum for sharing ideas, enforcing conservation policies, and advocating for coastal protection nationally and globally. Members of Coastal 500 all take a pledge to encourage healthy fishing communities by empowering their people with clear access rights to fisheries and supporting good local governance and leadership.”

Founded in 2020 by Prince William, The Earthshot Prize aims to discover and help scale the world’s most innovative climate and environmental solutions to protect and restore our planet. The prize is centered around five “Earthshots” — simple but aspirational goals to ensure our communities, oceans, and ecosystems can thrive together in harmony for generations to come: 1) Protect & Restore Nature; 2) Clean Our Air; 3) Revive Our Oceans; 4) Build A Waste-free World, and 5) Fix Our Climate.

In addition to their eligibility for the £1 million prize, all finalists will receive mentorship, resources, and technical support from The Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme, a year-long program for each cohort of 15 finalists to accelerate the growth of their groundbreaking solutions. 

In the coming weeks, more articles will spotlight the achievements of these 15 finalists. The Manila Bulletin Environment & Sustainability section is set to feature an in depth interview with Tirona, where she will impart her experiences and optimism in the ongoing battle against climate change and how it impacts the coastal communities.

The five winners of this year’s prize will be selected by Prince William and the Earthshot Prize Council, a global body of activists, experts, and influencers championing urgent and innovative action to protect the climate and our natural environment. 

We fervently hope that Tirona's Coastal 500 emerges victorious — though securing a spot on the shortlist is already a significant honor. Winning this prize would redirect the world's attention and focus onto our vulnerable coastal communities.

(Johannes L. Chua is the editor of the Environment and Sustainability Section of Manila Bulletin.)