PA Media
A tropical forest restoration initiative and a global ocean treaty project have been recognized as some of the winners of this year’s Earthshot Prize.
The recipients, announced during a ceremony in Brazil, will each receive £1 million to further develop their climate restoration efforts.
Prince William, the founder of the Earthshot Prize, expressed that the winners serve as “inspiration” and demonstrate that progress is achievable.
Notable presenters included football star Cafu, Olympian Rebeca Andrade, and ex-Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel, with performances from pop artists Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro.
Among the attendees were UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan. Prince William, serving as the prize’s president, emphasized his vision of making the 2020s a decade of significant global improvement.
The prize, inspired by former US President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot initiative, currently focuses on five goals: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix Our Climate.
2025 Earthshot Prize Winners
- Protect and Restore Nature: re.green in Brazil aims to make Atlantic Forest conservation financially viable.
- Clean Our Air: Bogotá has implemented policies like clean air zones to achieve sustainable change.
- Revive Our Oceans: The High Seas Treaty will set measures for marine life conservation, effective from January 2026.
- Build a Waste-Free World: Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria promotes sustainable practices in the fashion industry.
- Fix Our Climate: Friendship supports vulnerable communities in Bangladesh with essential services and disaster preparedness.
Thiago Picolo, CEO of re.green, stated that winning the Protect & Restore Nature prize validates their efforts and aids in engaging with stakeholders. Prince William labeled the winners as “innovators” and expressed hope fueled by their ambitions.
Earlier, Prince William met the finalists at the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, reminiscent of a similar visit by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, 34 years ago. His five-day visit to Brazil has largely centered around climate and environmental issues.
