The Prince of Wales awarded £1 million each to five environmental innovators at the fourth annual Earthshot Prize ceremony in Cape Town on November 6, 2024. From nearly 2,500 nominees across 141 countries, these winners were selected by Prince William and the Earthshot Prize Council for their proven impact on nature, air quality, oceans, waste reduction, and climate action.[1][2]
The 2024 Earthshot Prize Winners
Protect and Restore Nature: Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, Kazakhstan
Saved the critically endangered Saiga antelope through community-led habitat protection across Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe. The project now protects over 200,000 km² of grassland and has reduced Saiga mortality by 75 percent.[3][4]
Clean Our Air: Green Africa Youth Organization, Ghana
Implemented a “Zero Waste Model” that cuts open-burning of waste by 70 percent and slashes associated greenhouse gas emissions. The program has expanded to five Ghanaian municipalities, engaging over 10,000 youths in sustainable waste management.[5][3]
Revive Our Oceans: High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
A coalition of 120 countries at COP15 secured a commitment to protect 30 percent of land and ocean by 2030—up from 17 percent of land and 8 percent of oceans currently under protection.[6]
Build a Waste-Free World: Keep IT Cool, Kenya
Provides solar-powered cold‐chain platforms for smallholder farmers and fishers, reducing post‐harvest losses by 98 percent and cutting carbon emissions by 51 percent. The network serves over 15,000 users across East Africa.[7][8][5]
Fix Our Climate: Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, USA
Converts industrial waste heat into electricity without moving parts, capturing up to 60 percent of waste heat. The technology could prevent gigatonnes of CO₂ emissions annually—equivalent to powering 4 billion homes.[9][10]
Ceremony Highlights and Impact
Prince William opened the ceremony at a purpose-built venue beside Cape Town Stadium. He praised Africa’s role in global climate leadership and called on world leaders to back scalable solutions. Hosts Billy Porter and Bonang Matheba introduced performances by Lebo M, the Ndlovu Youth Choir, Davido, and Diamond Platnumz.[2][11][1]
Since its launch in 2020, the Earthshot Prize has disbursed over £75 million in funding and support. The 2024 awards were broadcast live across 50 African countries, underscoring the continent’s central role in climate resilience despite its low share of global emissions.[12][3]
Applications for the 2025 Earthshot Prize are now open, seeking transformative solutions for a healthier planet.[3]
