Five winners were each awarded with £1 million for their effort to combat climate change using innovative methods.
The 2024 Earthshot Prize, now in its fourth year, took place at a star studded ceremony in Cape Town on Wednesday 6 November.
Hosted by award-winning television presenter Bonang Matheba and Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner Billy Porter, the awards evening was a celebration and acknowledgement of #ClimateCreativity.
The five Winners, selected from 15 Earthshot Finalists this year, were awarded £1 million each to accelerate and scale their game-changing environmental solutions.
The selection process focused on identifying impactful, inspiring and inclusive environmental solutions.
Two of the five winners were African representatives. Clean Our Air: Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), Ghana and Build a Waste-Free World: Keep IT Cool, Kenya.
The three other winners represented different parts of the globe making the Earthshot Prize truly worldly.
They are:
- Protect and Restore Nature: Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, Kazakstan
- Revive Our Oceans: High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, Global
- Fix Our Climate: Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, USA
Youth-led, gender-balanced organisation, GAYO uses its “Zero Waste Model” to drive behavioural change in waste management practices across Africa that cut greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution, while also bringing additional income to communities. Their goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution in Ghana by 70%, compared to open burning, as well as divert a total of 4,000 tonnes of waste by 2030. GAYO’s plans to scale would make them the leading model for waste management on the continent.
Keep IT Cool, Winner for Build a Waste-Free World, addresses the challenge of food spoilage by providing sustainable, localized refrigeration systems that help small farmers and 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. With plans to grow into East Africa and beyond, KIC is now working to expand their activities in poultry, fruit and vegetables and aims to bring their solution to more communities.
Prince William, Founder and President of The Earthshot Prize, said it was imperative to celebrate the incredible achievements of the Winners and the 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.”
“Our work in Ghana demonstrates that sustainable waste management isn’t just a possibility—it’s a necessity. The recognition by The Earthshot Prize fuels our commitment to replicating these models across Africa, proving that local solutions can have global impacts,” said Desmond Alugnoa, Co-Founder of the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO).
“We are on a mission to revolutionise the food supply chain in East Africa. We are grateful for the recognition from The Earthshot Prize, and it is an important milestone for Keep IT Cool. We will continue to enhance market access, reduce waste and build climate resilience for small-scale fish and poultry farmers throughout the region,” said Francis Nderitu, Founder and Managing Director of Keep IT Cool
A diverse group of experts, advocates and individuals were on the panel of judges. The Earthshot Prize Council is chaired by The Earthshot Prize Board of Trustees Chair, Dame Christiana Figueres, architect of the Paris Agreement.
Members of The Earthshot Prize Council include: His Royal Highness Prince William, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, José Andrés, Sir David Attenborough, Cate Blanchett, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Wanjira Mathai, Stella McCartney, Nemonte Nenquimo, Luisa Neubauer, Indra Nooyi, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Naoko Yamazaki.
Several personalities from different parts of the world presented the awards including model Heidi Klum, actress Nina Dobrev and Rugby World Cup winner Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira.
