Prince William unveils multi-million prize to tackle climate crisis

‘Ours is a world of wonder, every day it reminds us of its beauty. But it also warns us that we can no longer take life as we know it for granted,’ says Sir David Attenborough

The Duke of Cambridge has announced a new awards scheme for climate change activists named the Earthshot Prize.

The multimillion-pound initiative comprises a set of challenges designed to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet.

“The challenges will be a chance for everyone’s voice to be heard, we want to motivate and inspire a new generation of thinkers, leaders and dreamers,” reads a statement on the scheme’s website.

“Our prizes will reward progress across all sectors of industry and society, not just technology,” it adds, noting that the prizes could be awarded to “anyone who is making a substantial development or outstanding contribution to solving our environmental challenges,” including scientists, activists, economists, leaders, governments, banks, businesses, cities, and countries.

Prince William will be awarding one prize to five winners every year for the next 10 years. There will be an annual awards ceremony every year between 2021 and 2030 that will take place in a different city around the world each time.

The website adds: ”Through this, and the winners work following each initial challenge, we hope to be able to provide at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest problems by 2030.”

The scheme takes its name from the concept of moonshots, a term that has become shorthand for ambitious and ground-breaking goals ever since Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969.

Kensington Palace announced the scheme on Tuesday, tweeting: “Who is ready to lead as we make the 2020s a decade of action to repair our planet?”

The announcement was accompanied by a short video about the climate crisis voiced by Sir David Attenborough.

“Ours is a world of wonder, every day it reminds us of its beauty,” the broadcaster and environmentalist says. “But it also warns us that we can no longer take life as we know it for granted.

The Earthshot prize will be the “most prestigious environment prize in history”, Attenborough adds.

Prince William commented: “The earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve.

“People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth.”