Prince William’s Earthshot Prize has announced its 15 finalists at the Earthshot Innovation Summit held Sept. 24 in New York. Launched in 2020, the prize is given annually to encourage and sustain innovative solutions to the most serious environmental problems facing the planet.
“The passion of these Finalists is a testament to what can be achieved when we tap into the enormous creativity, ingenuity, and optimism of communities around the world,” Prince William, founder and president of the Earthshot Prize, said in a statement. “Representing every corner of the globe, these Finalists are leading the way in solving some of the most urgent environmental challenges. Their groundbreaking work is inspiring hope and action as we work to create a sustainable future for generations to come.”
The finalists, shortlisted from 2,500 nominees submitted for the prize from 75 countries, will each receive support to help accelerate the growth of their work. Five winners will be selected from the finalists working toward Earthshot’s five goals: protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world and fix our climate.
Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, based in Ecuador, is one of the finalists. It is a group of 30 Indigenous nations working together to protect 35 million hectares (86 million acres) of Amazon Rainforest, an area the size of Germany.
“Our alliance supports these communities through programs and projects that provide alternative livelihoods, promote restoration and ensure conservation,” Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai, president of the governing board for the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance, told Mongabay. “This is our solution to empower Indigenous peoples to scale their efforts in protecting and restoring their territories.”
In the U.K., finalist NatureMetrics is collecting tiny bits of environmental DNA, eDNA, from water and soil to monitor biodiversity. “By turning nature into data, we can inform management decisions for better outcomes, tell compelling stories to drive engagement and create accountability for businesses and their impact on nature,” Kat Bruce, founder of NatureMetrics, told Mongabay.
Another finalist, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, is a global organization of 119 countries, which aims to protect 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans by 2030. The group engages with political leaders to keep the 30 by 30 goal on international agendas, like the U.N. Global Biodiversity Framework, where it was adopted in 2022. It also provides technical support and resources for member countries.
“You can think of us as an octopus, connecting our member countries with organizations that specifically focus on the 30 by 30 initiative,” Rita El Zaghloul, director of the coalition, told Mongabay.
The final five winners will be awarded a prize of 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) at a ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, in November.
Banner image: courtesy of Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance
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