Earthshot Prize 2024 winners announced

The 2024 winners, chosen from 15 Earthshot finalists, were awarded £1 million each to accelerate and expand their transformative environmental solutions.

Following a rigorous selection process focused on identifying impactful, inspiring, and inclusive environmental solutions, the five winners are:

1. Protect and Restore Nature: Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, Kazakstan
2. Clean Our Air: Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), Ghana
3. Revive Our Oceans: High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, Global
4. Build a Waste-Free World: Keep IT Cool, Kenya
5. Fix Our Climate: Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, USA

“Today, we celebrate the incredible achievements of our 2024 Earthshot Prize winners and 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,” said Prince William, Founder and President of The Earthshot Prize.

Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative

Winner for Protect and Restore Nature

The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative has accomplished the remarkable feat of rescuing the critically endangered Saiga antelope from the brink of extinction. This mission has evolved into one of the world’s largest conservation efforts, dedicated to protecting and restoring Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe – one of the world’s most vulnerable natural ecosystems.

“We are thrilled to be receiving the 2024 Earthshot Prize for Protect and Restore Nature. Altyn Dala demonstrates that when governments and civil society work together with a shared vision, we can achieve remarkable results.

“The restoration of the Saiga antelope population and the revival of the Central Asian steppe are not just triumphs for wildlife but for the local communities that depend on these ecosystems,” said Vera Voronova, Executive Director, Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative.

GAYO, Green Africa Youth Organization

Winner for Clean Our Air

GAYO, a youth-led, gender-balanced organisation, employs its ‘Zero Waste Model’ to promote behavioural change in waste management across Africa, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution while providing additional income to communities. It aims to cut Ghana’s greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution by 70%, compared to open burning, and divert a total of 4,000 tonnes of waste by 2030. With plans to scale, GAYO is positioned to become the leading model for waste management on the continent.

“We are incredibly honoured to be winning the prize, which is a testament to the power of community-driven solutions and the importance of empowering those most affected by climate challenges.

“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).

High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People

Winner for Revive Our Oceans

The High Ambition Coalition, a pioneering alliance of 119 countries, has set the ambitious goal of protecting 30% of global land and oceans by 2030. This coalition identifies technical, financial, and knowledge gaps, linking governments to necessary support and funding. It reached a significant milestone in 2022 with the adoption of the ‘30×30’ target in the UN Global Biodiversity Framework.

“On behalf of the alliance, we are deeply humbled to be a winner of this year’s Earthshot Prize.

“Today’s award validates the hard work and dedication of all involved in the 30×30 initiative and fuels our excitement and determination to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. Together, we can achieve a more sustainable and biodiverse future,” said Rita Maria El Zaghloul, Director, High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.

Keep IT Cool

Winner for Build a Waste-Free World

Keep IT Cool (KIC) tackles food spoilage by offering sustainable, localised refrigeration systems that enable small farmers and fishers to preserve their produce. Through solar-powered cold storage units installed at landing sites, KIC effectively reduces spoilage and waste by keeping catches fresh and facilitating timely transport to markets. With plans to expand across East Africa and further, KIC is now working to extend its solution to poultry, fruit, and vegetables, aiming to reach more communities.

“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.

Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems

Winner for Build a Waste-Free World

Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems (ATS) has developed a straightforward, safe, and scalable technology to capture waste heat and convert it into electricity, providing a transformative solution for heavy industries such as cement and steel production. These industries operate at extremely high temperatures, producing significant amounts of waste heat that is usually lost. ATS’s technology has the potential to save gigatonnes of CO₂.

“At ATS, we are proud to lead the way in converting this waste into clean, usable electricity. Winning the 2024 Earthshot Prize underscores the transformative potential of our technology.

“Tonight is a key moment for us as we focus on scaling up production in larger manufacturing facilities,” said Kelly Adams, CEO, Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems.

The five Winners of the 2024 Prize cohort were selected by Prince William and The Earthshot Prize Council, a diverse group of experts, advocates and individuals dedicated to championing urgent and innovative action to protect our planet. 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.

Beyond the five £1 million prizes to advance the winners’ solutions, each of the 15 Earthshot Prize Finalists will receive dedicated mentorship, resources, and technical support through the year-long Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme.

This support includes access to the prize’s extensive network of influential experts and partners, including the Global Alliance of Partners, which consists of some of the world’s largest businesses, donors, investors, and environmental organisations committed to climate action.

Finalists will also gain access to Launchpad, Earthshot’s bespoke online finance platform that connects Earthshot solutions with a growing community of mission-aligned donors and investors eager to scale proven environmental solutions.

The Earthshot Prize is already preparing for the 2025 Earthshot Prize, with nominations now open for the fifth cohort of innovative solutions and entrepreneurs.