Prince William brings Earthshot Prize to Rio de Janeiro
For the first time in its five-year history, the Earthshot Prize ceremony will travel to Latin America, with Prince William heading to Rio de Janeiro next month. The visit marks a milestone for the ambitious environmental initiative, which awards £1 million each year to five projects that deliver innovative solutions to the planet’s most pressing challenges. As the 2020s progress, the prize is increasingly seen as a catalyst for real-world change, bringing together communities, businesses, and policymakers around scalable environmental action.
Aspiring to conquer a global challenge with local impact
This year’s finalists reflect a diverse range of geographies and ideas—from small startups to initiatives backed by entire cities. Some projects aspire to decarbonize transportation networks, others to reduce plastic pollution or to rethink how buildings are designed and reused. Barbados, for example, is spotlighted for its leadership on climate policy and its aim to reach fossil-free status by 2030, underscoring how national ambitions can drive regional and global change. Meanwhile, a public transit electrification plan from Guangzhou, China, showcases how mega-cities can transform air quality and energy efficiency through scalable urban mobility.
Upcycled architecture and a new kind of consequence for construction
Among the contenders is what has been billed as the world’s first fully “upcycled skyscraper.” Sydney’s Quay Quarter Tower demonstrates a shift in thinking about aging urban cores: rather than demolish, a coalition of architects, engineers, builders, and developers reimagined the structure to extend its life, reduce waste, and cut carbon emissions associated with new construction. This project embodies the Earthshot ethos: innovate within existing systems to deliver sustainable outcomes with accelerated impact.
British innovation at the heart of the prize
Another standout finalist is Matter, a Bristol-based company that has developed a practical, scalable filter to capture microplastics at the source—inside washing machines. Microplastics are a leading contributor to ocean pollution, and Matter’s technology aims to curb a major driver of this problem. The founder, Adam Root, has framed Earthshot as a rare chance to demonstrate that climate action can also be a practical, everyday improvement for households and communities alike. “Winning an Earthshot prize would feel like winning an Olympic gold medal,” he said, underscoring the personal and collective significance of the prize for innovators working on the front lines of environmental impact.
A celebration of heroes of our time
Prince William has consistently described the Earthshot finalists as “heroes of our time,” emphasizing that these are not distant policy abstractions but real people delivering tangible improvements. In a new video message accompanying the finalist announcements, the Prince reflected on the past five years, noting both the urgency of 2030 and the progress already achieved. “2030 feels very real,” he said, inviting the public to back these projects and to recognize that decisive action today shapes the world future generations will inherit.
A ceremony with global reach and regional resonance
The Rio ceremony symbolizes the Earthshot Prize’s growing international footprint. Bringing the awards to Brazil highlights regional leadership in climate adaptation and sustainable development while signaling a broader commitment to inclusive global innovation. The Earthshot Prize Council, which includes notable figures such as Cate Blanchett and Queen Rania of Jordan, will play a key role in selecting the winners from nearly 2,500 nominees across 72 countries. This year’s lineup—featuring projects from the Caribbean to Asia—demonstrates the global scale of environmental ambition and the universal relevance of practical, replicable solutions.
A call to action for a sustainable decade
As the 2030 deadline approaches, Prince William’s message remains clear: the people behind these projects deserve widespread support and credible pathways to scale. The Earthshot Prize aims to translate inspiration into action, turning visionary ideas into realities that yield cleaner, safer, and more prosperous lives today, while protecting the prospects of future generations. The Rio ceremony will not only honor winners but also galvanize communities around the shared responsibility to safeguard the planet for generations to come.
