Prince William issues plea in new Earthshot Prize statement ahead of Brazil ceremony
The Prince of Wales founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020
Prince William has called this year’s Earthshot Prize finalists “heroes of our time” as he prepares to head to Brazil for the 2025 awards ceremony.
The Prince of Wales issued a powerful new statement ahead of November’s Earthshot Prize ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, describing the years between now and 2030 as a critical window for action.
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Prince William issues statement ahead of Earthshot Prize ceremony
In a video filmed under a towering oak tree, he reflected on how fast the years have passed and the urgent need for progress.
“I sat under this oak tree five years ago, soon after we launched the Earthshot Prize,” the Prince of Wales said. “The planet, the only home we have, needed our help. The scientists made it clear that we had to make significant changes by 2030. Back then, a decade felt like a long time. George was seven, Charlotte five, and Louis two. The thought of them in 2030 felt a lifetime away.
“But today, as we stand halfway through this critical decade, 2030 feels very real. 2030 is a threshold by which future generations will judge us.”
The Earthshot Prize was launched by the Prince of Wales in 2020. It awards £1 million each to five winners whose projects demonstrate extraordinary environmental impact.
This year’s awards will take place at Rio’s Museum of Tomorrow on November 5. The cohort of 15 finalists was selected from 2,500 nominees representing 72 countries.
Among them is Barbados, nominated for its goal to become fossil-fuel free by 2030, and Guangzhou, China, recognised for its electrification of public transport.
From the UK, Bristol-based company Matter has been shortlisted for developing a washing machine filter that captures microplastics, one of the leading causes of ocean pollution. Founder Adam Root told the BBC: “Winning an Earthshot Prize for me would be like winning an Olympic gold medal.”
‘The people behind these projects are heroes of our time’
Prince William stressed that the Earthshot Prize is more than just an awards show; it’s a worldwide call to action.
“This year’s 15 finalists have solutions to some of the most complex environmental challenges our planet faces,” he said. “They remind us that bold ideas can come from anywhere and spark change everywhere.
“The people behind these projects are heroes of our time. Let us back them, because if we do, we can make the world cleaner, safer and full of opportunity. Not just for future generations, but for the lives we want to lead now.”
The timing of this year’s awards is particularly symbolic. The Earthshot events in Rio come just weeks before COP30, the UN’s annual climate summit, which will be hosted in Belém, Brazil, near the Amazon Rainforest.
The people behind these projects are heroes of our time.
Jason Knauf, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, praised the royal’s unwavering commitment.
“Prince William has been completely relentless in building the network,” he said, as reported by the BBC. “There’s never been a group of people working together on a single environmental project the way they have with Earthshot.”
With just five years remaining in the project’s initial 10-year mission, the prince emphasised that action is urgent.
“The journey to 2030 is still ours to define,” the Prince of Wales concluded.
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