The Earthshot Prize names its five
Innovators each awarded £1 million to expand their solutions for global climate impact.
The five winners of this year’s Earthshot Prize were revealed at a star-studded ceremony in Cape Town this week.
Launched in 2020 by The Prince of Wales, the Earthshot Prize aims to advance transformative solutions to heal the planet.
Some of the world’s biggest musicians, artists, athletes, and advocates graced the green carpet - including Australian conservationist Robert Irwin. It also shone a spotlight on African climate innovators during a week of action in Cape Town.
"These visionary innovators from Africa and beyond are not just solving the environmental challenges facing their communities - they are lighting the path for a sustainable future for us all"
Back in September, 15 finalists for the awards were selected from a pool of almost 2,500 nominees across 75 countries. Now, five of these innovators have each been awarded £1 million to expand their solutions for global impact.
"These visionary innovators from Africa and beyond are not just solving the environmental challenges facing their communities - they are lighting the path for a sustainable future for us all," said Prince William, founder and president of The Earthshot Prize.
Each winner represents one of the prize’s five mission categories. Read on to discover more about the innovators taking home the top honours this year and watch the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony via youtube here.
Fix Our Climate
Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems converts industrial waste heat into electricity, providing a sustainable energy solution for emissions-intensive industries like cement and steel, which typically lose around 60% of their energy as waste heat. ATS’s container-sized units capture this heat, using smartphone-sized plates with no moving parts to transform it into electricity. The technology can also generate power from lower temperature heat sources, such as geothermal energy. Initially focused on solar energy, ATS pivoted to thermovoltaics after discovering their materials could produce electricity from ambient heat alone, offering a promising method to reduce industrial carbon emissions.
Protect & Restore Nature
The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative aims to protect Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe, one of the world's least protected ecosystems, from threats posed by climate change, overgrazing, and industrial development. In one of its notable achievements, the initiative has helped save the critically endangered Saiga Antelope from the brink of extinction, a species heavily affected by poaching and disease. Using telemetry devices on 250 antelopes, the initiative tracks their migratory patterns to safeguard vital breeding and feeding grounds. Beyond wildlife protection, the project encourages community-led stewardship of the ancient landscape.
Build a Waste-free World
Keep IT Cool (KIC) provides sustainable refrigeration and distribution solutions to help small farmers and fishers in regions lacking reliable cold storage, reducing food spoilage and stabilising incomes. In areas like Lake Victoria, limited access to refrigeration leads to substantial food waste, with fisherfolk losing up to half of their daily catch. KIC addresses this by installing solar-powered cold storage at fish landing points and facilitating efficient transportation to markets. The initiative connects over 2,000 small businesses with direct access to retail markets, including 40 supermarkets, and is growing to meet demand.
Clean Our Air
The Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO) promotes sustainable waste management across Africa to tackle rising air pollution linked to rapid urbanisation and inadequate waste infrastructure. As one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, Africa faces substantial waste challenges, with much of it ending up in landfills or being incinerated, contributing to pollution. GAYO’s Zero Waste Model aims to address this by creating jobs and supporting circular waste management through the production of compost and charcoal briquettes made from waste, promoting both environmental and economic benefits.
Revive Our Oceans
The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) seeks to establish clear, actionable targets for global biodiversity conservation with the aim of protecting 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. Since its creation, HAC has rallied support from 120 countries, doubling its signatories since 2021. The coalition addresses issues such as illegal land appropriation, resource extraction, and overfishing in protected zones. Through policy advocacy and partnerships, HAC helps expand protected areas, strengthens financial support for conservation, and builds cross-party backing.
