In brief
The 2025 Earthshot Prize winners were announced by Prince William in Rio de Janeiro, recognizing initiatives focused on critical environmental challenges. Winners included initiatives for forest restoration, ocean conservation, and sustainable practices from cities like Bogotá and Lagos. Performing artists at the event included Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes, while notable attendees featured leaders from various sectors.
A project to restore tropical forests and a global ocean treaty initiative are among the winners of this year's Earthshot Prize. The winners, named at an awards ceremony in Brazil, will each be given £1m to scale up their projects aimed at repairing the climate.Prince William, founder of the award, expressed that the winners are an inspiration and demonstrate that progress is possible. Celebrities such as Brazilian football legend Cafu, Olympian Rebeca Andrade, and former Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel participated in the event, with pop stars Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes performing.UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also attended, and Prince William emphasized his commitment to making the decade one of transformative change in environmental issues. Inspired by John F. Kennedy's Moonshot project, the Earthshot Prize aims to tackle five critical goals: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.The prize recognized five winners from nearly 2,500 nominations across 72 countries. Among the winners are re.green from Brazil recognized for its work on the Atlantic Forest, Bogotá's efforts for clean air, and the High Seas Treaty aimed at ocean conservation. The future king marked the award as part of a 10-year commitment to catalyze environmental action.During his trip to Brazil, Prince William also engaged with the finalists, delivered speeches on climate change and deforestation, and participated in community environmental initiatives. He will continue to attend the COP30, contributing to ongoing discussions on climate policy.
