Prince William sets out plan to ‘transform the world’ in rousing Earthshot Prize speech

Prince William has told how he wants to use a decade of Earthshot Prize awards to “transform the world for good, one solution at a time”.

The Prince of Wales said it was his ambition when he set up the environmental project in 2020 “to champion the spirit of ingenuity that put a man on the moon within ten years”. And he revealed the idea first came to him during a trip to Africa two years earlier, when he was stopped in his tracks by the majesty of an endangered white rhino. He said he was struck by the ingenuity and passion of those working in often difficult circumstances to protect their environment.

As he celebrated the five winners from 15 finalists, who each took home a £1million prize to help launch and scale their planet saving ideas, William said the Earthshot Prize “isn’t just a celebration of winners. It’s a collaborative movement for change”.

In his keynote speech at this evening’s awards ceremony in Cape Town, William said he wanted “to champion the dreamers, the thinkers and the innovators from every walk of life, who share an ambition to build a better, more sustainable world”.

Opening and closing his speech with phrases in nine different African languages including Swahili, Zulu and Sesotho, William said: “I believe our world can be rich in possibility, in hope, and in optimism. That is why the Earthshot Prize exists. To champion the game-changers, the inventors, the makers, the creatives, the leaders. To help them build upon the amazing things they’ve already achieved. To speed their innovations to scale. And to inspire the next generation to create the future we all need.”

The five winners who will each now receive £1 million to scale up their projects tackling environmental problems were Fix Our Climate – Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, Revive Our Oceans -High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, Build a Waste-Free World – Keep IT Cool, Protect and Restore Nature -Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, Clean Our Air -Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO).

The prince said it was all our duty to support those at thr forefront of the “movement for climate innovation” and by joining together we can “champion the dreamers, the thinkers and the innovators from every walk of life, who share an ambition to build a better, more sustainable world”.

William revealed there have been more than 5,000 nominations since Earthshot was born and almost 400 from Africa alone this year, adding: “Each of those solutions should be seen as a reminder that Africa is a hub of creativity and innovation that will solve our planet’s toughest environmental challenges.”

Paying tribute to his hosts for a warm welcome throughout his week in Cape Town and an electric atmosphere at the live awards tonight, he said: “As with every trip to Africa, I have received the most warm and generous welcome over the last few days. When I founded The Earthshot Prize in 2020, my ambition was to champion the spirit of ingenuity that put a man on the moon within ten years.

“Our aim was to find solutions to repair our planet and provide real hope for the future. We want to make this the decade in which we transform the world for good, one solution at a time, from the ground up.

“It was an idea that first came to me on African soil. During a trip to Namibia and Tanzania, I was lucky enough to see some of the stunning wildlife that calls this continent home. But what really struck me was the incredible impact local people were having on the environment around them. Thanks to their ingenuity and creativity, biodiversity was returning, animals were being protected, and jobs were being created.”

Willam went on to say his vision for the awards was born from coming into contact with those people working on the ground to find solutions which are tackling the world’s biggest challenges every day. Afterwards, speaking to the winners William said: “It was so close. All the finalists were so close! There were the little things that just got it over the line.”

Speaking to Clean Our Air winners Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), the prince said: “Having you guys living in Africa is such a big deal. Timing is crucial. It’s difficult turning rubbish, trash, into something sexy but you guys do it. ‘This will give you power, strength and guys, we will back you. I hope you felt the energy in the room. You’ve got hard yards ahead but we will support you.” He also asked Build a Waste-Free World: Keep IT Cool: “What will you do with your million pounds? The farmers, the fishermen you are going to help, it’s amazing.”

Earlier in the evening, William, wearing a vintage blazer he sourced himself and “sustainable trainers” by Purified Shoes made with no plastic and biodegradable materials, was joined by the models Heidi Klum, Winnie Harlow and Earthshot ambassador Robert Irwin on the world’s longest-ever green carpet measuring 37-metres at the fourth annual awards. Guests, were asked to re-wear their outfits or spotlight African designers.

Hannah Jones, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, wore a custom-made red velvet jacket and tulle skirt by Notting Hill designer Aimee Joyce, made from dead stock material which would otherwise have been discarded, and dyed using a process developed by last year’s finalists Colorifix. She said: “We’re so delighted to be here in Africa. What matters is reaching young people around the world.”

Klum and Harlow were among those presenting awards. Klum, 51, who wore ed vintage Halston dress, has championed sustainable fashion. Harlow, 30, who was diagnosed with vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that causes white patches on the skin, as a child, has developed her own vegan and ‘reef safe’ cosmetic range that is free from chemicals which damage coral and marine life.

Harlow said of her involvement: “I was really honoured to get a royal letter asking if I could come here. I felt really honoured because I feel this should be something near and dear to everyone’s heart when it comes to taking care of Mother Earth, the planet. I always think it’s an honour. Talking of William’s involvement, she added: “I think it’s important for everyone to get involved just especially when you have got eyes on you. You want to help focus a lot of eyes on things that are important to everyone.”

The awards ceremony was hosted by the American actor Billy Porter, alongside the South African broadcaster Bonang Matheba. It opened with the South African singer and composer Lebo M performing Circle of Life from The Lion King musical at the top of Table Mountain and featured appearances and performances by African stars including the Grammy-nominated artist and producer, Davido and DJ ‘Uncle Waffles’.

The show was broadcast live to millions in 50 African countries by the Multichoice network, with the green carpet pre-ceremony show also streamed live on YouYube. It will later be aired on the BBC ’s iPlayer. The green Oscars style event is the highlight of the prince’s four-day trip to Cape Town, during which he is undertaking engagements highlighting the environment.

More than 1,000 guests joined William for the awards ceremony at a specially designed and recycled super dome next to Cape Town stadium. The giant structure — the largest of its kind in Africa, measuring twice the length of a rugby pitch and standing more than 15 metres high — has been used for previous events in South Africa and will be repurposed for future events.