Former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Arden graced the green carpet in Singapore at the third Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. This event unveiled five outstanding innovations, ranging from solar-powered dryers combatting food waste to making electric car batteries cleaner.
Before the ceremony, Dame Jacinda expressed to Associated Press how Earthshot has been instrumental in amplifying the solutions required to combat climate change. She emphasized the importance of connecting these ideas with real-world investors who have the capability to scale up these solutions quickly. She stressed the urgency, noting that Earthshot is dedicated to providing both speed and momentum in addressing these critical issues.
As a trustee of the Earthshot board, Dame Jacinda informed Reuters that they had to sift through thousands of ideas to select the final 45 finalists. One key criterion was the practicality and marketability of the ideas. The focus was on ensuring that these were not merely theoretical concepts but had the potential to make a tangible impact in the real world.
The green carpet also saw the presence of Britain’s Prince William alongside other notable celebrities. The Prince of Wales, speaking at the first ceremony held in Asia, expressed optimism, stating that the solutions presented by all 15 finalists provided hope in the face of the devastating effects of climate change worldwide.
The award ceremony featured the participation of Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, actors Donnie Yen, Lana Condor, and Nomzano Mbatha, as well as Australian wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin. They presented awards in five categories: nature protection, clean air, ocean revival, waste elimination, and climate change.
The winners, each receiving 1 million pounds (NZ$2.1 million) to scale up their innovations, include:
- Acción Andina, recognized for their community-based initiative in South America, which brings together tens of thousands of local and indigenous people to restore high forests in the Andes mountains.
- India’s S4S Technologies, celebrated for their solar-powered dryers and processing equipment that have helped millions of farmers preserve their crops and combat food waste.
- Boomitra, acknowledged for their efforts in reducing emissions and enhancing farmer profits in Asia, South America, and Africa by incentivizing land restoration through a verified carbon-credit marketplace.
- Hong Kong company GRST, lauded for developing a method to produce electric vehicle batteries that are less polluting and easier to recycle.
- The global non-profit organization WildAid Marine Program, commended for working with governments to strengthen enforcement against illegal fishing and promote ocean conservation.
Prince William summed up the evening, highlighting that the winners and all the finalists serve as a reminder that innovation and the ability to inspire change are qualities that exist in people from all corners of the world.
“Dame Jacinda Arden Shines at Earthshot Prize Awards, Unveiling Innovations for a Sustainable Future”