Prince William ‘deeply proud’ as he unveils finalists for Earthshot Prize 2025

The Independent

Prince William 'Deeply Proud' As He Unveils Finalists For Earthshot Prize 2025Source: The Earthshot Prize

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00:00I sat under this oak tree five years ago, soon after we launched the Earthshot Prize.

00:04The planet, the only home we have, needed our help.

00:08The scientists made it clear that we had to make significant changes by 2030.

00:14Back then, a decade felt a long time.

00:17George was seven, Charlotte five, and Louis two.

00:21The thought of them in 2030 felt a lifetime away.

00:24But today, as we stand halfway through this critical decade, 2030 feels very real.

00:30The Earthshot Prize was founded because this decade matters.

00:352030 is a threshold by which future generations will judge us.

00:40It is the point at which our actions, or lack of them, will have shaped forever the trajectory of our planet.

00:47I am deeply proud of what the Earthshot Prize has done in its first five years, and I'm enormously excited for the next five.

00:54Not just for the new finalists, well, welcome into our network, but to see the continued impact of our 60 existing finalists.

01:04Together, they are moving us towards achieving vital global goals that will improve and secure lives and livelihoods for all of us.

01:12Goals such as protecting 30% of our land and sea by 2030.

01:17Already, past finalists have protected and restored over 1 million square kilometres of land and ocean.

01:27And they have collectively reduced, avoided, or captured over 4.8 million tonnes of CO2 to fix our climate for future generations.

01:37This year's 15 finalists, we are about to reveal, have solutions to some of the most complex environmental challenges our planet faces.

01:45They remind us that ingenuity and leadership know no borders.

01:49That bold ideas can come from anywhere and can spark change everywhere.

01:53It is impossible to hear these finalist stories, to see the impact they are already having, and not feel encouraged by their energy and momentum.

02:01For me, it is that urgent optimism that has been at the heart of this prize from the beginning.

02:06And it feels unstoppable.

02:08The people behind these projects are heroes of our time.

02:12So let us back them.

02:13Because if we do, we can make the world cleaner, safer, and full of opportunity.

02:19Not only for future generations, but for the lives we want to lead now.

02:23The journey to 2030 is still ours to define.

02:27With a vision of these finalists and the support of all of us, a flourishing planet is already a reality.

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