Environmental Prize Finalists Described as ‘Heroes of Our Time’, Affirms The Prince of Wales
Prince William has commended the finalists for his eco-friendly Earthshot prize as “heroes of our time”.
The royal is set to travel to Rio de Janeiro in the coming weeks for the awards event, marking the first time the awards have been staged in Latin America.
The prize, founded by the prince half a decade back, awards one million pounds each year to five projects for their environmental innovations.
This year, there have been close to 2,500 nominees from 72 countries, with the victors to be selected by Prince William and his Earthshot Prize Council, which includes well-known personalities.
This year’s selection of nominees ranges from a Caribbean country to emerging enterprises.
About the Environmental Award
This global initiative is a 10-year project with past ceremonies held in global hubs such as various international locations.
This year’s key event is scheduled to take place at a renowned museum in Brazil on November 5th.
Notable Nominees and Their Projects
- This Caribbean island has been shortlisted for its international efforts on climate, with the island on track to become free of fossil fuels by the year 2030.
- The Chinese city of Guangzhou is shortlisted in the “Improve Air Quality” category for electrification of its public transport system.
- Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower is described as the world’s first fully “upcycled skyscraper”, preventing tearing down and minimizing environmental impact.
- Matter, the sole nominee from Britain, has developed a filtration system for washing machines that removes microplastics, a major cause of ocean pollution.
“In my view, winning an Earthshot prize for me would be like achieving the highest athletic honor,” stated Adam Root, founder of Matter.
Prince William’s Thoughts and Vision
In a video message shared to mark the announcement of this cycle’s nominees, he looked back on the past five years.
“Back then, a decade felt like a distant future. George was seven, Charlotte, five, and Louis two; the idea of them in 2030 felt a far-off reality,” expressed the prince.
“But today, as we stand halfway through this pivotal ten years, 2030 feels increasingly tangible.
“2030 is a threshold by which coming ages will evaluate us; it is the point at which our actions, or lack of them, will have shaped forever the path of our planet.”
He added: “Those individuals behind these projects are today’s pioneers, so let us back them. Since, if we do, we can create the world more pristine, safer and abundant with possibilities - not only for our descendants, but for the lives we want to live now.”
This Environmental Initiative as a Central Effort
The Earthshot Prize is now one of the key pieces of the royal’s official duties.
“He has been able to build an unprecedented network of organizations,” noted a spokesperson for the award.
“Generous donors, the corporates, and influential figures who participate – it’s unprecedented to have a group of people collaborating on a single environment project in the way they have with the Earthshot Prize.”
This year, the award ceremonies in Rio are in the run-up to the COP Climate Conference being held in Belem on the edge of the Amazon Rainforest.
