In a glittering ceremony at the futuristic Museum of Tomorrow, Prince William revealed the five winners of the Earthshot Prize 2025, describing them as “an inspiration that gives us courage.”
The Prince of Wales hailed the projects as solid “proof that progress is possible,” delivering his address at the high-profile event that brought together royalty, global leaders, and entertainment stars to celebrate climate innovation.
This year’s winners represent an impressive range of initiatives, from regenerating South America’s Atlantic Forest to groundbreaking efforts to protect marine biodiversity through a global treaty.
Among the presenters were Brazilian football icon Cafu, Olympic gold medallist Rebeca Andrade, and former Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel.
The night was amplified by performances from Kylie Minogue, who thrilled with a medley including Padam Padam alongside Shawn Mendes and Brazil’s pop queen Anitta.
“When I founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020, we had a 10-year goal: to make this the decade in which we transformed our world for the better,” Prince William stated, affirming his long-term commitment to the cause.
Global Heroes of the Earth: Meet the 2025 Winners
Snippet: From reforestation in Brazil to fashion-forward sustainability in Lagos—this year’s Earthshot champions prove that bold action and local solutions are key to saving our planet.
The Earthshot Prize, launched in 2020 by Prince William, awards five annual grants of £1 million to accelerate groundbreaking environmental initiatives worldwide.
This year, 2,500 applications from 72 countries were whittled down to 15 finalists. From that shortlist, five winners were chosen, each reflecting one of the five Earthshot goals.
Earthshot Prize 2025 Winners
| Earthshot Goal | Winner | Location | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protect & Restore Nature | re.green | Brazil | Restoring the Atlantic Forest through sustainable financial models |
| Clean Our Air | City of Bogotá | Colombia | Urban transformation through clean air zones and green spaces |
| Revive Our Oceans | High Seas Treaty | Global | Framework for marine conservation set to begin in 2026 |
| Build a Waste-Free World | Lagos Fashion Week | Nigeria | Championing sustainable practices in African fashion |
| Fix Our Climate | Friendship | Bangladesh | Supporting vulnerable communities facing climate threats |
Thiago Picolo, CEO of re.green, celebrated the victory: “Winning a prize like this is validation for us, helps us know we’re going in the right direction, facilitates conversations we need to have with banks, capital providers, corporates.”
A Royal Mission with Global Momentum
With the Earthshot Prize now at its halfway point, Prince William reflected on its journey so far. “We set out to tackle environmental issues head-on and make real, lasting changes that would protect life on Earth.”
The initiative takes its name from US President John F. Kennedy’s legendary Moonshot challenge. But instead of reaching space, this mission is rooted in Earth repairing its climate and ecosystems.
The Prince, joined by UK political figures including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, reaffirmed the UK’s support for green innovation on the global stage.
Christiana Figueres, chair of the Earthshot board of trustees, called the winners “proof that the spirit of collective action born here in Rio continues to grow stronger.”
“Their 2030 aims are deeply ambitious, but their impact to date, their plans in place and their tenacity fuels my optimism.”
William’s Eco-Tour of Brazil Continues
Earlier in the day, Prince William met with the finalists at the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, retracing the steps of his late mother, Princess Diana, who posed in the same spot 34 years ago.
But it’s not just ceremonial. The Prince’s five-day tour has been packed with environmental engagement. He spoke out against Amazon deforestation, condemning illegal activity during a speech at the United for Wildlife conference.
He also visited Paquetá Island, where he spoke with local residents, learned about mangrove conservation, and even planted saplings.
Next, the future king will head to Belém in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. There, he’s expected to speak at COP30, the UN’s annual climate summit, continuing to elevate environmental concerns on a global platform.
As the Earthshot Prize looks toward 2030, this year’s winners offer more than just innovation; they offer hope. And with Prince William’s steady hand on the wheel, the mission to save our planet is charging ahead.
