Prince William’s £1m Earthshot awarded for eco-friendly electric car batteries
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William expresses optimism at an event honoring climate crisis solutions
Researchers who devised a cleaner method for electric car batteries won Prince of Wales’s £1m Earthshot prizes. The awards, unveiled in Singapore on Tuesday, aim to recognize inventive approaches to address climate and biodiversity emergencies. At the ceremony, inspired by John F Kennedy’s Moonshot challenge, the prince emphasized that “hope does remain,” despite the increasingly undeniable impact of the climate crisis. Prince William wore an Alexander McQueen blazer, part of his wardrobe for a decade, previously worn at the inaugural Earthshot awards in 2021.
“The past year brought significant change and formidable challenges,” he remarked. “It left many feeling defeated, their hope diminishing. Nevertheless, as we witnessed tonight, hope endures.”
The prince foresaw future generations regarding this decade as pivotal—a time when global collective action for the planet prevailed. He emphasized this as the moment when society rejected voices of denial and defeatism, emerging instead as architects of change toward a healthy and sustainable world.
It is our responsibility to collaborate for the benefit of future generations and the well-being of our planet. I am confident that we will summon the courage to do so, fueled by the most potent motivators: optimism and hope.
The five awarded projects, each granted a £1 million prize, included:
- GRST is working towards constructing and recycling lithium-ion batteries in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.
- The WildAid Marine program is spearheading an initiative that brings together governments, scientists, and campaigners to address illegal fishing and enhance ocean conservation.
- S4S Technologies is developing a plan to create solar-powered dryers and processing equipment, empowering smallholder farmers to preserve crops and transform potential waste into valuable products.
- Boomitra is collaborating with 150,000 farmers in economically challenged regions of Africa, South America, and Asia. Their project aims to reduce emissions and boost profits by incentivizing land restoration through a verified carbon credit marketplace.
- Accion Andina is a project that unites tens of thousands of individuals from local and Indigenous communities in the Andes mountain range. Their objective is to protect and regenerate native forests and ecosystems.
The recipients were chosen by the prince and the Earthshot Prize Council, led by Christiana Figueres, a key figure in crafting the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
All five winners, along with 10 other finalists, will receive guidance, resources, and technical assistance through the Earthshot Prize fellowship—a year-long initiative aimed at expediting the development of their projects.
Sir David Attenborough, a member of the Earthshot Prize Council, made a virtual appearance during the ceremony, emphasizing that “we can lead both fulfilling and responsible lives on our planet.
