Prince William Announces Earthshot Prize Winners in Rio, Brazil
Prince William’s week in Brazil wrapped up in spectacular fashion as the 2025 Earthshot Prize winners were announced at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow. The star-studded ceremony — featuring Kylie Minogue, Shawn Mendes, and Anitta — celebrated groundbreaking efforts to heal the planet.
The Prince of Wales called the winners an “inspiration” and “proof that progress is possible,” adding that the prize was born out of a desire to make “this the decade in which we transformed our world for the better.”
Five projects each received £1 million to expand their impact, covering the Earthshot goals: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate. Among this year’s standout winners were re.green, a Rio-based organization using AI and drones to restore tropical forests, and Lagos Fashion Week, which earned the “Build a Waste-Free World” award for its commitment to sustainable design and local craftsmanship. “Winning a prize like this is validation for us,” said Thiago Picolo, CEO of re.green. “It helps us know we’re on the right path.”
The ceremony was hosted by Brazilian TV presenter Luciano Huck, with appearances from football legend Cafu, Olympian Rebeca Andrade, and former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel. The atmosphere was both festive and hopeful — a fitting reflection of Prince William’s message that optimism and action can go hand in hand.
This year’s Earthshot marked the halfway point of the decade-long initiative. Since its creation in 2020, the award — inspired by JFK’s Moonshot challenge — has grown into one of the world’s most prestigious environmental honors. From 2,500 nominees across 72 countries, 15 finalists were chosen before the five winners were unveiled in Rio.
Christiana Figueres, chair of the Earthshot Council and key architect of the Paris Climate Accord, praised the winners’ collective drive: “These winners are proof that the spirit of collective action born here in Rio continues to grow stronger, more determined, and more urgent than ever.”
Earlier in the week, Prince William toured Brazil’s iconic landmarks, including the Christ the Redeemer statue — recreating a moment once captured with his late mother, Princess Diana. He also visited the island of Paquetá to learn about mangrove conservation and met with local communities protecting the Amazon.
Before leaving for Belem to deliver a speech at COP30, the Prince reflected on why Brazil was the perfect host. “With the world’s eyes turning to Brazil this week, there is no better place to celebrate bold climate leadership,” he said. “When we work together with optimism and courage, a more sustainable future is within our reach.”
Earthshot’s CEO, Jason Knauf, echoed that spirit: “With its energy, its people and its iconic landscapes, it is the perfect place to celebrate amazing environmental innovation and host our biggest and best Earthshot ever.”
