Nature and Biodiversity

Prince William launches prestigious 'Earthshot Prize' 

Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, join Sir David Attenborough during the naming ceremony for the new polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, Britain, September 26, 2019.  Peter Byrne/Pool via REUTERS - RC1518866F80

The multi-million pound award will be given to 5 winners each year, who have come up with inventive solutions to solve the world's biggest environmental problems Image: REUTERS

Michael Holden
Reporter , Reuters
  • Described as the most prestigious environmental prize in history, the Earthshot prize will be awarded to those who find answers the the world's problems
  • The project was launched by Prince William and is supported by a global coalition of philanthropists and organisations

Britain’s Prince William has launched a multi-million pound prize to encourage the world’s greatest problem-solvers to find answers to Earth’s biggest environmental problems, saying the planet was now at a tipping point.

Britain's Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Sir David Attenborough look at ice core from the Antarctic as they attend the naming of the RRS Sir David Attenborough polar research ship at Camel Laird shipyard, Birkenhead, Britain September 26, 2019. Asadour Guzelian/Pool via REUTERS     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC1EF1347320
The Prince has been a notable voice in the climate debate, calling on governments and citizens alike to respond to the crisis. Image: REUTERS

The Earthshot Prize, described in its publicity as the “most prestigious environmental prize in history”, will be awarded to five winners a year over the next decade with the aim of producing at least 50 solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

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“The earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve,” William, 37, said in a statement.

“Remember the awe-inspiring civilisations that we have built, the life-saving technology we have created, the fact that we have put a man on the moon,” he added. “People can achieve great things. The next 10 years present us with one of our greatest tests - a decade of action to repair the Earth.”

The British royal family have for many years been vocal campaigners on a host of environmental issues, with William’s father Prince Charles speaking out for decades about the impact of climate change and the importance of conservation.

The Earthshot initiative, which comes after more than a year of consultations with over 60 organisations and experts, aims to generate new technologies, policies and solutions for issues of climate and energy, nature and biodiversity, oceans, air pollution and fresh water.

Kensington Palace said the prize drew its inspiration from the concept of Moonshots, which it said since the 1969 moon landings was synonymous with ambitious and ground-breaking goals.

“Just as the Moonshot that (U.S. President) John F. Kennedy proposed in the 1960s catalysed new technology such as the MRI scanner and satellite dishes, the Earthshots aim to launch their own tidal wave of ambition and innovation,” the palace said.

It gave no detailed figures of the size of the prizes or how they would be funded, saying the project was supported by a global coalition of philanthropists and organisations.

The project will be formally launched later in 2020 with challenges announced at events around the world and annual award ceremonies in different cities between 2021 and 2030.

A film to coincide with the launch was narrated by veteran British broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, who has been making nature programmes such as the popular Blue Planet series since the 1950s.

“This year Prince William and a global alliance launch the most prestigious environment prize in history: The Earthshot Prize,” Attenborough said, describing it as “a global prize designed to motivate and inspire a new generation of thinkers, leaders and dreamers to think differently”.

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