15 finalists emerge for Earthshot prize awards

The Earthshot Prize has released its fourth cohort of prize finalists, an inspiring group of global innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders and advocates pioneering solutions to the most pressing climate and environmental challenges.

Each of the 15 finalists is in the running to receive one of five £1 million prizes, which will be awarded at the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa early next month. This year’s finalists were selected from nearly 2,500 nominees submitted by the prize’s network of more than 430 nominators from 75 countries.

The 15 finalists were chosen by The Earthshot Prize based on assessments done by its selection partners and expert advisory panel, a global group of more than 100 subject-matter experts with deep backgrounds in conservation, science, technology, business, finance, academia and policy.

During the year-long search and selection process, the Earthshot Prize, its selection partners, and members of the expert advisory panel evaluated each finalist’s solution for its potential to disrupt environmental challenges and positively impact people, communities and our planet.

As a result, the 2024 Earthshot Prize celebrates the most competitive cohort to date. The 15 finalists hail from six continents and include several firsts for the prize, including the first finalists from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Nepal.

Representing every corner of the globe, these Finalists are leading the way in solving some of the most urgent environmental challenges. Their groundbreaking work is inspiring hope and action as we work to create a sustainable future for generations to come.

As The Prize continues its journey to repair and regenerate the planet, it has become a powerful global search engine unearthing the best environmental solutions and a platform for impact to catalyse critical investment and resources towards these solutions.

The announcement brings the number of global solutions honored as Prize Finalists to 60, a major milestone in The Prize’s efforts to uncover and elevate the most promising climate solutions around the world. The prize has also helped unlock more than £75 million in direct and in-kind support for Finalists since its founding in 2020.

The five winners of this year’s prize will be selected by Prince William and his fellow members of the prestigious Earthshot Prize council, a diverse group of individuals dedicated to championing urgent and innovative action to protect the climate and our natural environment. The Earthshot Prize Council is chaired by The Earthshot Prize Board of Trustees Chair, Christiana Figueres, architect of the Paris Agreement.

Each Finalist will receive dedicated mentorship, resources and technical support to help accelerate the growth of their solution during the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme.