Celebrating world-changing innovation: 2024 Earthshot Prize winners announced
The winners of the 2024 Earthshot Prize were unveiled this week (Wednesday, 6 November) in a glittering ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa with Prince William present, among a star-studded lineup of attendees.
The prestigious event, hosted by Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner Billy Porter and award-winning TV presenter Bonang Matheba, awarded £1 million to each of five groundbreaking initiatives designed to tackle some of the planet’s most pressing environmental issues.
Launched by Prince William in 2020, the Earthshot Prize aims to elevate innovative solutions across five key areas: protecting nature, cleaning air, reviving oceans, building waste-free societies, and climate change mitigation. This year’s winners showcased the breadth of ideas transforming environmental action worldwide.
The 2024 Earthshot Prize winners
- Protect and Restore Nature: Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, Kazakhstan
This initiative aims to restore Kazakhstan’s vast steppe ecosystems, reintroducing saiga antelopes and other keystone species. By regenerating these essential habitats, the project preserves biodiversity and strengthens ecosystems. - Clean Our Air: Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), Ghana
GAYO empowers communities in Ghana to combat air pollution through local waste management solutions and climate advocacy. Their model of community-driven climate resilience serves as a template for addressing air quality in urban centres across Africa. - Revive Our Oceans: High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, Global
This coalition unites nations to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. With a focus on marine biodiversity and sustainable ocean practices, it has mobilised international support to safeguard critical marine habitats. - Build a Waste-Free World: Keep IT Cool, Kenya
Focused on sustainable cold storage, Keep IT Cool provides low-cost, solar-powered cooling systems for small-scale farmers. By reducing food waste and improving market access, it supports food security and economic stability in rural communities. - Fix Our Climate: Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, USA
Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems is revolutionising solar energy with thermovoltaic technology, enabling more efficient and scalable renewable energy production. This breakthrough has the potential to accelerate clean energy transitions globally.
The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative is working to save the Saiga antelope and other species, strengthening ecosystems in Kazakhstan.
Learn more about the winners here.
The 2024 Earthshot Prize nominees represented an impressive array of projects and organisations from around the world, each tackling significant environmental challenges with unique and scalable solutions. Among the inspiring nominees was Standard Gas, a UK-based company pioneering sustainable waste-to-energy technology.
Their innovative approach turns waste into clean energy, positioning the company as a key player in circular economy efforts.
“We’re delighted just to have been nominated,” said Chief Executive, David Whitmarsh. “But the fact that our nomination comes from the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, an official nominator, is a great endorsement. Hats off to HRH Prince William and Sir David Attenborough for implementing the prize in the first place. Its aim – to search for and scale the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges – is one our company supports wholeheartedly.”
Standard Gas features in our programme Power Shift: The Renewable Energy Revolution
Standard Gas and other nominees, such as Plastic Fischer from Germany and EcoSwell from Peru, highlighted the Earthshot Prize’s dedication to supporting a range of environmental solutions, from waste management and water conservation to wildlife preservation and clean energy. The diversity and scale of this year’s nominees underscored the global collaboration required to address urgent climate and ecological issues, aligning with the Earthshot Prize’s mission to catalyse positive environmental change across sectors and borders.
Why the Earthshot Prize matters
The Earthshot Prize is a call to action, spotlighting solutions that push the boundaries of sustainable innovation. Prince William’s presence at the ceremony underscores his commitment to addressing the climate crisis, as does the attention from high-profile advocates who help amplify the work of this year’s winners. With this recognition, each project has a chance to expand its impact, proving that dedicated, scalable solutions can drive meaningful change for a greener, more resilient world.
You can remind yourself of last year’s event and its big winners here.
