Prince William Announces Earthshot Prize Winners at Rio Ceremony
RIO DE JANEIRO – Prince William revealed the winners of the 2025 Earthshot Prize at a ceremony in rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, recognizing innovative solutions to environmental challenges. The Prince of Wales’s visit to Brazil underscores the growing urgency surrounding climate action, particularly in the Amazon rainforest, ahead of COP30.
the Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William in 2020, aims to incentivize and scale impactful solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems. This year’s ceremony, held in a country grappling with deforestation and biodiversity loss, highlights the critical need for collaborative efforts to protect the planet. The Prince’s five-day trip to Brazil has focused heavily on climate and environmental conservation, including a visit to the Christ the Redeemer statue – a location his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, famously visited 34 years prior.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also attended the ceremony. Earlier in the day, Prince William met with the 15 Earthshot Prize finalists at Christ the Redeemer.
Throughout his trip, Prince William has emphasized the importance of protecting vital ecosystems. He criticized criminal involvement in Amazon deforestation during a speech at the United for Wildlife conference on Tuesday. He also visited the island of Paqueta, engaging with local communities, learning about mangrove conservation efforts, and participating in tree planting.
The Prince is scheduled to deliver a speech at COP30, the UN’s annual climate change meeting, in Belem, within the Amazon rainforest, on Thursday. His presence at the conference is expected to further galvanize international commitment to addressing climate change and supporting lasting development.
