Revealed: List of winners awarded £1million by Duke of Cambridge for Earthshot Prize 2021

18 October 2021, 10:39

Earthshot 2021
Earthshot 2021. Picture: Charlie J Ercilla / Alamy Stock Photo

By Megan Hinton

The first five winners of the Duke of Cambridge’s Earthshot prize have been revealed at a prestigious event in London.

The awards inspired by the Apollo moon landings, marked the end of a 10-month global search which saw over 750  nominations worldwide.

The winners of the “one-of-a-kind” prize each received one million pounds to help fund their "ground-breaking solutions" to the urgent environmental challenges facing our planet.

Alongside the prize money, winners were also presented with a prize medal, designed by award-winning Dutch artist Christien Meindertsma, inspired by the famous ‘Earthrise’ photo.

Stars spotted at the green carpet event included Dame Emma Thompson, David Oyelowo and Harry Potter star Emma Watson who wore a wedding dress made of 10 dresses from Oxfam, after organisers asked guests to “consider the environment when choosing their outfit”.

During the event the Duke of Cambridge asked the public not to “give up hope” pledging “we are going to find the solutions to repair our planet".

Adding:"A decade doesn't seem long enough, but humankind has an outstanding record of being able to solve the unsolvable."

Whilst the Duchess of Cambridge said: “Nature is vital to us all.“A thriving natural world, regulates our planet, nurtures our physical and mental health and helps feed our families.

“But for too long, we’ve neglected our wild spaces and now we’re facing a number of tipping points.“If we don’t act now, we will permanently destabilise our planet and we will rob our children of the future they deserve.”

The winners included Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix our Climate.

Protect and Restore Nature has doubled the number of trees in the Republic of Costa Rica by paying local citizens to restore the rainforest, whilst Clean our Air created a portable machines to turn agricultural waste into fertiliser to reduce air pollution in India.

Two best friends who run Revive our Oceans, were awarded the prize after growing coral in the Bahamas using special tanks which grow coral up to 50 times faster than normal.

Over in Milan, Build a Waste-Free World were recognised for cutting waste by collecting unused food and giving it to those in need, and Fix our Climate, won after designing renewable energy by splitting water into Hydrogen and Oxygen

The Earthshot awards will be held every year over the next decade, with next event set to be held in the United States of America. Nominations for the 2022 prize will open in January.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Shops are legally selling addictive nicotine pouches to children just weeks after single-use vapes were banned in an effort to cut their use among young people, Trading Standards has warned.

Shops legally selling addictive nicotine pouches to children weeks after single-use vapes banned

It is understood Deborah Turness made the comments when she was asked about the documentary during a routine staff meeting.

BBC News chief said members of Hamas government and militants are not the same amid documentary row

At some O2 stores, a security guard now opens the door for customers in response to a "growing number of thefts".

Tomorrow’s high street? Locked doors and security crackdowns as retailers fight shoplifting surge

Four boys and four girls, including one set of identical twins, have been delivered and are all doing well following treatment by a team in Newcastle, who pioneered the technique.

Eight babies born in the UK thanks to new IVF technique using DNA from three people to prevent devastating disease

Ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, 39, had surgery after he broke his left leg during a match against Birmingham City in April 2013.

Ex-Premier League footballer sues doctor for £7m after ‘unnecessary’ surgery ‘brought career to an end’

Shocking footage showed the stage at the iconic European dance festival in Boom, Belgium, engulfed in flames on Wednesday afternoon

Tomorrowland main stage destroyed by fire hours before festival start

The sci-fi juggernaut, which follows a group of friends who tackle supernatural forces in Indiana, debuted in 2016 and has gripped audiences across four seasons so far.

Tears and terror: First trailer drops for final season of Stranger Things

Audun Groenvold has died after a lightning strike.

Norwegian Olympic ski cross medalist Audun Groenvold dies after lightning strike

Companies House website viewed on an Ipad

11,500 companies struck off Companies House register after crackdown

Tributes have been paid to Love Actually and EastEnders star Jo Bacon.

Tributes pour in for Eastenders and Love Actually star following death aged 72

The TV chef, 59, broke his silence on Tuesday night after the show's producers Banijay UK confirmed his contract will not be renewed.

John Torode to 'take legal action' against BBC after MasterChef axing amid racism claim in Gregg Wallace report

Exclusive
All four suspended MPs voted against the bill.

Suspended Labour MP 'can't promise not to rebel again' after Keir Starmer removes whip from four backbenchers

The Obamas finally set the record straight on their marriage.

'We've had some really hard times': Barack and Michelle Obama finally address divorce rumours in shock interview

Man 38, lay dead in council toilet for six days before being found

Body of 'gentle giant', 38, lay undiscovered in council toilet for six days before he was found

Novak Djokovic (SRB) [6] during his Gentlemen's Singles Semi-Final match against Jannik Sinner (ITA)

Djokovic states aim to be oldest ever Wimbledon winner

London Southend Airport has partially reopened three days after a fatal plane crash.

London Southend Airport to partially reopen three days after deadly plane crash