Projects to conserve the land and ocean, clean the air, manage waste effectively and generate sustainable power were recognised by the international Earthshot project.
Five 2024 Prize Winners were announced at a ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, hosted by Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winning actor and musician Billy Porter alongside television presenter and social media influencer Bonang Matheba.
They were selected from this year’s 15 Finalists, and will be awarded £1 million (AED4.7 million) each to fund their environmental solutions.
The Earthshot Prize winners were:
Protect and Restore Nature: Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, Kazakstan
Clean Our Air: Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), Ghana
Revive Our Oceans: High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, Global
Build a Waste-Free World: Keep IT Cool, Kenya
Fix Our Climate: Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, USA
The project’s founder, the UK’s Prince William said: ‘Today, we celebrate the incredible achievements of our 2024 Earthshot Prize Winners and Finalists. These visionary innovators from Africa and beyond are not just solving the environmental challenges facing their communities—they are lighting the path for a sustainable future for us all.
‘Their groundbreaking work demonstrates that with the right support and collaboration, we can scale solutions that will repair and regenerate our planet. Let their success inspire us to act with urgency and optimism, ensuring a thriving world for future generations.’
Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative was named as Winner for Protect and Restore Nature after being nominated by: United Nations Environment Programme
The group achieved the feat of saving the critically endangered Saiga antelope from extinction and has grown into one of the world’s largest conservation projects and is focused on protecting and restoring Kaakhstan’s Golden Steppe, one of the world’s least protected natural ecosystems.
Vera Voronova, Executive Director, said: ‘We are thrilled to be receiving the 2024 Earthshot Prize for Protect and Restore Nature. Altyn Dala demonstrates that when governments and civil society work together with a shared vision, we can achieve remarkable results.
‘The restoration of the Saiga antelope population and the revival of the Central Asian steppe are not just triumphs for wildlife but for the local communities that depend on these ecosystems.’
GAYO, Green Africa Youth Organization was named as Winner for Clean Our Air and was nominated by the Clean Air Fund. It uses a Zero Waste Model to drive behavioural change in waste in its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution in Ghana by 70per cent as well as divert a total of 4,000 tonnes of waste by 2030.
Co-founder Desmond Alugnoa said: ‘We are incredibly honoured to be winning the Prize, which is a testament to the power of community-driven solutions and the importance of empowering those most affected by climate challenges.
‘Our work in Ghana demonstrates that sustainable waste management isn’t just a possibility—it’s a necessity.’
The Campaign for Nature nominated High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People which was chosen as Winner for the section called Revive Our Oceans.
An alliance of 119 countries with the goal to protect 30 per cent of land and oceans by 2030, High Ambition Coalition identifies technical, financial and knowledge gaps and connects governments.
Director Rita Maria El Zaghloul said: ‘Today’s award validates the hard work and dedication of all involved in the 30×30 initiative and fuels our excitement and determination to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. Together, we can achieve a more sustainable and biodiverse future.’
Keep IT Cool (KIC) was named as Winner for Build a Waste-Free World, nominated Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, Katapult Ocean.
It addresses the challenge of seafood spoilage by providing sustainable, localised refrigeration systems that help fishers preserve their produce. By installing solar-powered cold storage units where fish are landed, KIC significantly reduces spoilage and waste by ensuring the catch stays fresh and managing its transport to market. The group is now working to expand activities in poultry, fruit and vegetables.
Founder Francis Nderitu said: ‘We are on a mission to revolutionise the food supply chain in East Africa. We will continue to enhance market access, reduce waste and build climate resilience for small-scale fish and poultry farmers throughout the region.’
Winner for Build a Waste-Free World was Advanced Thermovoltaic System (ATS), nominated by Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
This group has developed a simple and safe technology to capture waste heat and convert it into electricity, offering a solution for heavy industries like cement and steel production. These industries require extremely high temperatures, which generate vast amounts of waste heat that is typically lost. ATS’s technologies have the potential to save gigatonnes of CO2.
CEO Kelly Adams said: ‘At ATS, we are proud to lead the way in converting this waste into clean, usable electricity. Winning the 2024 Earthshot Prize underscores the transformative potential of our technology.Tonight is a key moment for us as we focus on scaling up production in larger manufacturing facilities.’
The five Winners of the 2024 Prize cohort were selected by Prince William and The Earthshot Prize Council which include Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, environmentalist Sir David Attenborough, actress Cate Blanchett, designer Stella McCartney, and former Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi.
In addition to the prizes each of the 15 Earthshot Prize Finalists will receive dedicated mentorship, resources and technical support through the year-long Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme.
