Earthshot Prize 2024 Finalists Revealed
On 6 November, the fourth annual Earthshot prize will take place, a celebration of the most groundbreaking solutions aiming to combat the climate crisis. Bringing together global innovators, investors and philanthropists, this event will showcase new environmental initiatives and initiate crucial conversations on preserving our planet. Enterprise remains a crucial aspect of combating the climate crisis, enabling us to use innovative methods to propel ourselves forward.
After the success in Singapore last year, Cape Town will take the turn to host the event. Discussions surrounding climate action in Africa are crucially important, with many of its nations facing the worst climate effects despite contributing the least to greenhouse gas emissions.
This year’s event is in partnership with MultiChoice, an organisation spotlighting African Youth Creators who are providing domestic solutions to environmental issues in Africa and beyond. Adopting local and regional approaches to environmental issues is vital, as it empowers communities to implement solutions specifically tailored to their unique environments.
Check out below the inspirational finalists that are spearheading action against climate change. The winners from the five prizes will be selected by Prince William and the fellow members of the Earthshot Prize Council, with the announcement taking on 6 November. Follow the Earthshot Prize page to stay updated!
Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance (Ecuador) – An alliance of 30 Indigenous nations focused on protecting 86 million acres of critical Amazon rainforest and advocate for a regenerative bioeconomy.
NatureMetrics (UK) – an intelligence start-up using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling in order to widen the accessibility of biodiversity monitoring e.g., analysing species populations.
Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative (Kazakhstan) – Partnering with governments and Indigenous communities to restore the Steppe grassland and currently hailed as one of the greatest nature restoration successes ever recorded.
GAYO (Ghana) – a youth-led organisation that uses a ‘zero-waste model’ to drive behavioural change in waste management practices across Africa, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution while boosting local economies.
d.light (Pan-Africa) – a company offering affordable solar home systems, replacing polluting kerosene lamps and dirty stoves with clean electricity. They are already one of the largest solar home system providers globally.
MYCL (Indonesia) – a company tackling crop-waste burning and harmful leather production, two issues that pollute the air and damage quality of life. They utilise crop waste and a unique mushroom base and convert them into a leather alternative.
High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (Global) – ground-breaking alliance of 119 countries who identify technical, financial, and knowledge gaps on land and oceans and connect governments with technical assistance and funding.
MiAlgae (UK) – a company offering a circular economy solution to the problem of sourcing marine Omega-3s from fish oil. They grow nutrient-rich microalgae as a direct source of Omega-3s for aquaculture feed, therefore reducing the need to rely on wild fish.
Coast 4C (Philippines) – a social enterprise aiming to build the world’s largest supply of regenerative seaweed which also provides a stable market for marginalised coastal fishing communities.
Natural Fiber Welding (USA) – a company creating biodegradable natural fibres to replace plastics use in fashion, footwear and automotive industries. Their eco-alternative claims to produces 90% less carbon emissions than common plastic.
Ferment’Up (France) – a company that upcycles skins and seeds from fruits and vegetables using dry fermentation to create highly nutritious ingredients from food waste.
Keep It Cool (Kenya) – a company that is tackling problems with proper refrigeration and cold-chain logistics across Africa by offering solar-powered refrigeration solutions. Also, they help to connect smallholder farmers and fishers to a centralised online marketplace.
Equative (USA) – a company that uses a seawater electrolysis process to remove CO2 from the ocean 99,000 times faster than nature alone and produce a clean by-product called green hydrogen.
Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems (USA) – a company taking excess heat from heavy industrial processes, like creating cement and steel, and converts the heat waste into electricity. Their process has the potential to avoid a gigatonne of CO2 waste by 2050.
Build Up Nepal (Nepal) – a social-enterprise that has developed an earthquake-resilient brick with 75% lower carbon emissions compared to its traditional counterparts.
Sustainability gatherings are not merely an opportunity for the industry to reflect on its shortcomings but are crucial spaces for collaboration, storytelling, and, ultimately, impact.
Global Fashion Agenda is pleased to co-publish the new report, Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Italy, with PwC.
Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), supported by its Insight Partner, Maersk, has released a new report, Reverse Logistics for Circular Fashion Systems.
