Environmental Award Finalists Hailed as ‘Heroes of Our Time’, Affirms The Prince of Wales
The Prince of Wales has commended the finalists for his eco-friendly global award as “contemporary champions”.
Prince William is planning a trip to Brazil’s vibrant city in the coming weeks for the awards event, marking the first time the awards have been hosted in Latin America.
This award, established by the prince five years ago, awards £1m annually to five projects for their environmental innovations.
This year, there have been nearly 2,500 contenders from over 70 nations, with the victors to be chosen by the prince and his award committee, which features prominent figures.
The list of finalists ranges from a Caribbean country to small start-up businesses.
Regarding the Earthshot Prize
The Earthshot Prize is a 10-year project with previous events conducted in major cities such as various international locations.
This year’s key event is set to take place at a renowned museum in Brazil on November 5th.
Notable Nominees and The Projects
- Barbados has been shortlisted for its global leadership on climate action, with the island on track to become fossil-free by 2030.
- A major city in China is in the running in the “Clean our Air” category for transitioning to electric power of its mass transit network.
- A skyscraper in Sydney is billed as the world’s first fully “upcycled skyscraper”, avoiding tearing down and minimizing environmental impact.
- A UK-based firm, the sole nominee from Britain, has created a filter for washing machines that removes tiny plastic particles, a primary source of ocean pollution.
“I feel like, winning an Earthshot prize for me would be equivalent to winning an Olympic gold medal,” remarked the founder, founder of Matter.
The Royal’s Thoughts and Outlook
In a video message shared to mark the announcement of this year’s finalists, he looked back on the previous half-decade.
“At that time, a decade felt like a long time. My children were much younger; the thought of them in the year 2030 felt a lifetime away,” expressed the prince.
“But today, as we stand in the middle of this critical decade, 2030 feels increasingly tangible.
“That date is a threshold by which coming ages will evaluate us; it is the point at which our actions, or inaction, will have shaped forever the trajectory of our world.”
He continued: “Those individuals behind these projects are heroes of our time, so let us support them. Because, if we do, we can create the world cleaner, safer and abundant with possibilities - not only for future generations, but for the lives we want to lead now.”
This Environmental Initiative as a Central Project
The Earthshot Prize is now one of the key pieces of Prince William’s official duties.
“He has successfully established an unmatched coalition of organizations,” noted a spokesperson for the award.
“Generous donors, businesses, and the leaders who get involved – it’s unprecedented to have a group of people collaborating on a unified eco-initiative in the way they have with the Earthshot Prize.”
This year, the Earthshot Prize events in Rio de Janeiro are in the run-up to the COP Climate Conference being held in a Brazilian city on the edge of the Amazon Rainforest.