Algae replacing plastic packaging and converting carbon dioxide into rocks are among the environmental innovations that have won the Prince of Wales Champion of the Earth award.
The winners of the prestigious prize, which seeks to discover solutions to repair and regenerate the planet, were announced at a glittering ‘green’ carpet event in the US city of Boston.
Each received £1 million to scale up their pioneering projects to ensure a stable climate.
With more than 1,000 entries for this year’s awards, a jury selected 15 finalists from 10 countries, including Prince WilliamSir David Attenborough, actress Cate Blanchett, footballer Dani Alves, Fijian climate activist Ernest Gibson, Alibaba founder Jack Ma and singer Shakira.
five earth shot The awards are based on the major environmental challenges facing the planet.
The 2022 winners are:
Clean up our air:
Photo: Fight for the Earth Award
Mukuru Clean Stoves, Kenya – A start-up that provides women in Kenya with cleaner burning stoves to reduce unhealthy indoor pollution and provide a safer way to cook.
Founder and CEO Charlot Magayi said: “Mukuru Clean Stoves started out as a solution to a problem I personally felt in my life.
“Today, we have the opportunity to change the lives of millions of people with cheaper, safer and more sustainable stoves and fuels.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Earthshot Prize as we embark on the next step in our journey.”
Protect and restore nature:
Photo: Fight for the Earth Award
Kheyti, India – The company has designed a groundbreaking greenhouse-in-a-box to help small farmers reduce costs and increase productivity by providing communities on the frontlines of climate change with refuge from unpredictable weather and destructive pests. crop yields and protect livelihoods.
Co-Founder and CEO Kaushik Kappagantulu said: “The world depends on smallholder farmers, yet their lives are some of the toughest on Earth.
“Today, our Greenhouse in a Box is empowering farmers in India.
“The steps we’ve taken in Kheyti are now being built to transform farmers’ lives on a massive scale.”
Revive our oceans:
Photo: Fight for the Earth Award
Aboriginal Women of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia – This innovative program is helping to develop the next generation network of female rangers, harnessing generations of traditional knowledge and technologies, such as drones, to help protect and restore natural habitats.
General manager Larissa Hale said: “This place has always been our home, but today we risk losing it and the unique culture that has existed here for thousands of years.
“Our network of female rangers exists to protect our homeland and continue our traditions.
“We’ve made an important first step, but we still have a long way to go.”
Building a world without waste:
Image: Earth Shot
Notpla, UK – London-based entrepreneurs have developed a plastic alternative made from seaweed and plants that can be used to create a range of packaging products, such as bubbles for liquids, coatings for food containers and plastic for packaging. Paper cosmetics and fashion industry.
Co-founder and CEO Pierre Paslier said: “14 million tons of plastic enter our oceans every year.
“We started Notpla when we discovered that the solution was also in our oceans.
“We’re already replacing the plastic that plagues our oceans and partnering with seaweed farms that give back to the environment and local economies.
“Thank you for recognizing us as we take the next step and eliminate single-use plastic for good.”
Fix our climate:
Photo: Fight for the Earth Award
44.01, Oman – The company has created an innovative technology that converts carbon dioxide into rock and stores it permanently without long-term monitoring, while providing new jobs for engineers and geologists in the fossil fuel industry.
Founder Talal Hasan said: “The answers to the problems facing our planet can often be found in nature.
“At 44.01, we discovered a natural process for removing carbon, and we’ve accelerated it.
“We believe this process can be replicated globally and could play a critical role in helping our planet return to health.”
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Analysis – Royal visit overshadowed by string of bad news
The Princess of Wales wore a striking green rented gown to the awards ceremony, showcasing her environmental credentials and encouraging guests to dress sustainably.
Celebrities including Hollywood actor Rami Malek and former England football captain David Beckham joined the royal couple, while artists who performed on the evening Billie EilishAnnie Lennox, Ellie Goulding and Beyonce proteges Chloe x Halle.
The awards ceremony was the culmination of the royal couple’s three-day visit to Boston overshadowed by racial squabbles William’s godmother Dame Susan Hussey has resigned as royal aide after repeatedly questioning a prominent British-born black domestic violence charity boss about where she “really came from”.
Trailer promoting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Netflix documentary series Released on Thursday, some royal commentators saw the timing as a snub for William and Kate.
Prince William meets Joe Biden
Earlier, Prince William met US President Joe Biden at the end of a royal visit to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for a 30-minute discussion that a Kensington Palace spokesman described as “warm, friendly and substantive” sex”.
The spokesman said Mr. Biden was interested to hear about the Fight for the Planet initiative and the finalists.
The award was inspired by then-President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot Challenge in the 1960s, which aimed to land humans on the moon within a decade.
This is the second time the Earthshot Awards have been awarded, the first being given out last year.
Presenting the Clean Our Air award to Mukuru Clean Stoves, Kate told Earthshot guests: “Breathing clean air is something many of us take for granted, but sadly for millions of people around the world it doesn’t. Not something to take for granted.
“From smog-shrouded cities to impacts in nature, air pollution poses a threat that knows no borders.
“It is heartbreaking that more than 250 million children under the age of five breathe polluted air every day. This fact is harder to hear because we know that pollution has a significant impact on our lifelong development.”
At the end of the event, William told the audience: “I believe the Earthshot solutions you’ve seen tonight are proof that we can overcome the greatest challenges facing our planet.
“By supporting and expanding them, we can change our future.
“In addition to tonight’s winners and finalists, and those who will be discovered for years to come, I hope Earthshot’s legacy will continue to grow, helping our communities and our planet thrive.”