The Earthshot Prize 2024 marked its fourth year with a star-studded awards ceremony held in Cape Town, South Africa on Wednesday, November 6.
Five eco-projects were celebrated for their innovative environmental solutions, each securing $1.2 million to grow their initiatives.
The prize winners are as follows: Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative was recognized for saving the critically endangered Saiga antelope in Kazakhstan, while Green Africa Youth Organization won for building circular waste management infrastructure across Africa.
High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People was lauded for its ambitious goal to protect 30 percent of land and oceans by 2030, and Keep It Cool was acknowledged for using solar-powered refrigeration to reduce farmers' harvest waste. Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems was honored for converting excess heat into electricity.
Prince William, founder and president of the Earthshot Prize, highlighted the urgent role of humans in "repairing" our planet. He said, “I believe our world can be rich in possibility, in hope, and in optimism. That is why the Earthshot Prize exists to champion the game changers, inventors, makers, creatives, and leaders."
The 2,000 attendees were asked to wear pre-worn clothes or those made from recycled materials. Meanwhile, the finalists have reduced 420,000 tons of CO2 emissions and upcycled or avoided 100 kg tons of waste from 2020 to 2023, according to the organization.
“While international achievements are crucial, we must also recognize the people on the frontlines: the rangers, the indigenous peoples, and the local communities who are the guardians of our planet's most precious resources," he added.
The Earthshot Prize, intending to meet ambitious climate goals by 2030, highlights the urgency of scaling environmental solutions with six years left in the decade.
Last year, Filipina Rocky Sanchez Tirona, the woman behind Coastal 500, secured a spot as one of the 15 finalists for the award.