At the third annual Earthshot Innovation Summit, held in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, ‘The 2024 Earthshot Prize‘ announced its fourth cohort of 15 finalists from around the globe. The Earthshot prize is aimed at scaling cutting-edge climate solutions globally. A scaling that is embedded in offering solutions to repair & regenerate the planet.

Founded by HRH Prince William, The Earthshot Prize is an environmental challenge that catalyzes urgent optimism & action by discovering, accelerating, awarding, spotlighting & scaling solutions to repair & regenerate the planet.

This prize is inclusive of innovators, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and advocates who are working on groundbreaking solutions to address pressing climate and environmental challenges. Through the summit, each one is challenged to do their part in accelerating progress to repair our planet this decade. The finalists named will compete for five £1 million prizes, to be awarded at The Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, on November 6.

Prince William, Founder and President of The Earthshot Prize, pointed out that it is indeed a celebration of the incredible achievement, unwavering dedication, and urgent optimism exhibited by the fourth class of Earthshot innovators. “These finalists, representing communities around the globe, inspire hope and action through their creative and impactful work,” he said.

This year’s finalists were chosen from nearly 2,500 nominees submitted by over 430 nominators from 75 countries. A selection process that is normally overseen by The Earthshot Prize’s Expert Advisory Panel, comprising over 100 global specialists in conservation, science, technology, business, finance, academia, and policy.

The selection panel evaluated each solution for its potential to disrupt environmental challenges and create positive impact. The finalists hail from six continents, marking several firsts, including representation from France, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Nepal.

Since its inception in 2020, The Earthshot Prize has elevated 60 global solutions, helping secure over £75 million in direct and in-kind support for the finalists. The Prize focuses on scaling innovative solutions aligned with five critical ‘Earthshots’: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.

2024 Earthshot Prize Finalists:

Protect and Restore Nature:

• Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance (Ecuador): A coalition of 30 Indigenous nations protecting 86 million acres of the Amazon rainforest and promoting a regenerative bioeconomy.
• NatureMetrics (UK): A startup using environmental DNA (eDNA) to monitor biodiversity and inform conservation efforts.
• Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (Kazakhstan): Successfully restoring the endangered Saiga antelope population in Kazakhstan’s steppe grassland.

Clean Our Air:

• GAYO (Ghana): A youth-led organization driving waste management improvements and reducing air pollution through its zero-waste model.
• d.light (Pan-Africa): A company providing affordable solar energy to millions across Africa, replacing polluting kerosene lamps and stoves.
• MYCL (Indonesia): A company converting crop waste into a leather alternative, addressing both air pollution and unsustainable leather production.

Revive Our Oceans:

• High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (Global): An alliance of 119 countries working to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030.
• MiAlgae (UK): A company using whisky by-products to grow Omega-3-rich microalgae as a sustainable alternative to fish oil.
• Coast 4C (Philippines): A social enterprise cultivating regenerative seaweed, benefiting coastal communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

Build a Waste-Free World:

• Natural Fiber Welding (USA): A company creating biodegradable natural fibers to replace plastics in various industries.
• Ferment’Up (France): A company upcycling fruit and vegetable waste into nutritious ingredients using dry fermentation.
• Keep It Cool (Kenya): A company offering solar-powered refrigeration to reduce post-harvest waste and support smallholder farmers.

Fix Our Climate:

• Equatic (USA): A company using seawater electrolysis to remove carbon dioxide and produce green hydrogen as a clean fuel.
• Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems (USA): A company capturing excess industrial heat to generate electricity and reduce CO2 emissions.
• Build Up Nepal (Nepal): A social enterprise producing low-carbon, earthquake-resilient bricks to build affordable homes.

The Earthshot Prize Council, chaired by Dame Christiana Figueres, architect of the Paris Agreement, will select the five winners. The council includes Prince William, Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Cate Blanchett, Sir David Attenborough, and others.

The 2024 Earthshot Prize winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Cape Town, part of Earthshot Week, which will bring together global leaders, investors, and NGOs to accelerate environmental solutions. All finalists will also receive mentorship, technical support, and access to The Earthshot Prize’s global network of investors and climate experts.