The Earthshot Prize sets its sights on Brazil, where Prince William will preside over a decisive ceremony.
At the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro on November 5, the edition marks the Latin America debut ahead of the COP.
Five projects will receive £1m each for their environmental innovations, chosen from global finalists reflecting proven and scalable solutions.
Barbados aims for 2030 without fossil fuels, Guangzhou electrifies its transport, Sydney reinvents an upcycled skyscraper, while Matter tackles microplastics.
The jury includes Prince William and the Earthshot Prize Council, featuring Cate Blanchett and Queen Rania, catalyzing a coalition.
With the 2030 deadline approaching, measurable solutions and decisive funding coalesce around heroes of our time.
Nearly 2,500 applications from 72 countries converge, a sign of global competition and powerful technological alliances.
| Highlights |
|---|
| Prince William will travel to Rio de Janeiro for the Earthshot Prize ceremony. |
| First edition organized in Latin America. |
| Date and location: November 5, Museum of Tomorrow. |
| 10-year program, launched five years ago. |
| Prize: £1m for each of the 5 winning projects. |
| 2024 applications: nearly 2,500 from 72 countries. |
| Jury: Prince William and the Earthshot Council (including Cate Blanchett and Queen Rania). |
| Diverse finalists: from countries to startups, a broad diversity of solutions. |
| Barbados recognized for its climate leadership: aiming for net zero fossil fuels by 2030. |
| Guangzhou chosen in “Cleaning our air” for electrifying public transport. |
| Quay Quarter Tower (Sydney): first fully upcycled skyscraper. |
| Matter (Bristol): washing machine filter against microplastics. |
| Focus on 2030: benchmark year to assess climate action. |
| 2024 ambassadors: Billy Porter, Robert Irwin, Nomzamo Mbatha. |
| Schedule aligned with COP in Belém, at the gates of the Amazon. |
| Impact: unprecedented network of philanthropists, businesses, and leaders mobilized around a common goal. |
Royal visit and strategic significance
Prince William will travel to Rio de Janeiro to preside over the Earthshot Prize ceremony. The city will host the event at the Museum of Tomorrow on November 5, marking a first in Latin America. The trip is part of a dense international sequence, approaching the COP held in Belém, at the gates of the Amazon.
The prince anchors this prize at the heart of his public agenda, with a constant and methodical energy. His message sets the horizon of 2030 as a benchmark for assessing collective responsibilities. He calls for support for ground-level actors, deemed essential for a viable planet starting now.
Rio becomes the epicenter of climate innovation.
Architecture of the prize and governance
Designed over a decade, the Earthshot Prize awards five projects of environmental innovation each year. Each winner receives a grant of one million pounds, catalyzing proofs of concept and scaling up. The scheme aims for measurable results within tight timelines.
The jury includes the prince and the Earthshot Prize Council, which brings together leaders, creatives, and public decision-makers. The presence of Cate Blanchett and Queen Rania exemplifies this cross-sectional coalition. Previous editions have taken place in Boston, Singapore, Cape Town, and London, structuring a global network.
This year’s edition counts nearly 2,500 applications from 72 countries, a sign of increased mobilization. The final selection highlights impact, replicability, and scientific rigor. The promised visibility accelerates partnerships, funding, and public policy adoption.
2024 finalists: geographical and technological diversity
Island leadership and energy transition
Barbados exemplifies a resolute path towards a fossil fuel-free economy by 2030. The trajectory combines clear regulatory frameworks, targeted investments, and community inclusion. The island projects a narrative of economic resilience and energy sobriety.
Chinese metropolis and air quality
Guangzhou is featured in the “Cleaning our air” category with the mass electrification of public transport. Buses and urban fleets reduce emissions and noise while improving urban health. The approach offers a replicable model for megacities facing smog.
Circular architecture in Sydney
The Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney embodies an “upcycled” skyscraper instead of being demolished. A coalition of architects, engineers, and developers reused the existing structure. The project avoids a spike in emissions and waste while requalifying tertiary heritage.
British technology against microplastics
Matter, based in Bristol, offers a filter for washing machines that captures microplastics. The solution targets the main source of synthetic fibers entering the oceans. The founder compares winning an Earthshot to a personal Olympic medal.
Home filtration can change the scale of the problem.
Stage, partners, and outreach
The Museum of Tomorrow will provide a scenography dedicated to measurable trajectories rather than statements. The stage will host ambassadors from culture and conservation. Personalities such as Billy Porter, Robert Irwin, and Nomzamo Mbatha will carry this message in 2024.
The general management, entrusted to Jason Knauf, consolidates an alliance of patrons and businesses. This community supports finalists through engineering, advance purchasing, and implementation. Contractual and technical synergies accelerate the measured impact on the ground.
The coalition amplifies the leverage of the winners.
Timeline, Brazilian context, and climate diplomacy
The Brazilian timeline favors announcements aligned with Amazonian priorities. Local authorities highlight transferable solutions to neighboring tropical biomes. Rio brings together decision-makers, scientists, and investors ready to engage patient capital.
The proximity to Belém and the upcoming COP reinforce the momentum. Finalists benefit from a diplomatic window conducive to multilateral agreements. The ripple effect is already observed in municipal and regional commitments.
Media echoes and family dimension
The royal sequence also feeds chronicles devoted to travel and protocols. Some publications mention logistical coordination with the family, balancing official agenda and discretion. One article addresses it from a lifestyle angle, accessible here.
However, palace communication prioritizes programmatic goals and the continuity of the prize. Public messages emphasize scale, traceability, and performance. The family narrative remains secondary compared to climate and financial imperatives.
Heading towards 2030 and shared responsibility
The past half-decade tightens the pace and clarifies the horizon. The finalist innovations propose concrete, quantifiable, and scalable trajectories. The challenge now lies in rapid industrialization and adoption by communities.
The prince reminds that our current decisions will shape the planetary trajectory for the long term. Partners of the Earthshot Prize express readiness to amplify deployments and funding. The winners expected in Rio will embody this demand for effectiveness and proof.
