The winners of this year’s Earthshot Prize were recently announced by Prince William in Cape Town, South Africa. Launched in 2020 by Prince William and Sir David Attenborough, the Earthshot Prize awards £1 million to each of five global projects that present solutions to urgent environmental challenges. Each year, the winners are selected for their innovations in categories that include protecting nature, cleaning the air, and fixing the climate.
Among the winners this year is Advanced Photovoltaic Systems (ATS) from Canada, which developed a modular technology that converts industrial waste heat into clean electricity. This system, built without moving parts, uses smartphone-sized plates to capture lost energy and reduce emissions in industries like steel and cement production.
Another winner is the Kenyan company Keep It Cool, which addresses post-harvest food loss with solar-powered refrigeration. Designed to help small farms and fisheries preserve their produce, the off-grid cooling units aim to reduce food spoilage in regions with high temperatures and limited access to refrigeration.
The Ghana-based Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), founded by Desmond Alugnoa, also received an award for its waste management system, which empowers youth to improve air quality and reduce landfill waste. GAYO works with local communities to develop skills, with a focus on vulnerable groups impacted by climate change.
Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative was honored for its efforts to restore the steppe, wetland, and desert ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity and supporting endangered species in the region. This organization aims to protect Kazakhstan’s unique habitats and preserve the native wildlife that depends on them.
Finally, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, an intergovernmental alliance of 118 countries, received an Earthshot Prize for its goal of conserving 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. This coalition advocates for government commitments to large-scale environmental protection as part of a broader global conservation movement.
Prince William expressed pride in the winners, saying, “The Earthshot Prize exists to support those who are bringing hope and tangible solutions to our planet’s most pressing environmental issues.” With these awards, each project will gain the resources and support needed to further scale their impact and inspire a future of environmental regeneration.
Photography courtesy of EARTHSHOT PRIZE
