Prince William Urges Renewed Global Climate Action at EarthShot Prize in Rio

Post by : Raina Nasser

Rio de Janeiro hosted a high-profile ceremony on Wednesday as Prince William used the fifth EarthShot Prize event to press for stronger international action on environmental threats. The visit marked his first formal trip to Latin America and came just days before Brazil stages the UN climate summit, COP30.

Launched in 2020 after William's visit to Namibia, the EarthShot Prize sets out a ten-year programme to accelerate practical environmental breakthroughs. Modeled on the ambition of JFK’s “moonshot,” the initiative awards five winners £1 million (about $1.3 million) each to scale projects addressing climate change, pollution, biodiversity decline and related crises.

Speaking at the ceremony, William recognised the scale of the task and urged continued determination. “I know many people feel defeated by the scale of the problem,” he said, “but this is not the moment to relent — the hope we had in 2020 remains as important as ever.”

The event drew a wide range of celebrities and public figures, including Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes, Brazilian artists Gilberto Gil, Seu Jorge and Anitta, and former Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were also present, signalling international backing for the prize.

William’s programme in Rio underlined his deepening role in environmental advocacy. Alongside the awards he announced new measures to support Indigenous peoples and grassroots environmental campaigners, and visited key city sites to see conservation work in action.

Now at the midpoint of its decade-long mission, the EarthShot Prize aims to catalyse replicable, impactful solutions around the world. William will continue this work at COP30, representing his father King Charles and reinforcing the UK’s stance on global sustainability.

Through initiatives such as the EarthShot Prize, Prince William remains a prominent voice for climate action, seeking to spur innovation, engage young leaders and boost international momentum for a sustainable future.