Prince William has officially kicked off the 2025 Earthshot Prize Summit, unveiling new details about this year’s highly anticipated event — one that continues to spotlight groundbreaking innovations aimed at repairing and protecting the planet.
The announcement was made via the Earthshot Prize Foundation’s official Instagram account, featuring dynamic video clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and glimpses from the upcoming venue. The post revealed that the Earthshot Prize Awards Night will take place on November 5, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“Expect a packed programme of events, roundtables, and, of course, our Awards Night,” the post read, adding that Rio has been officially transformed into the ‘Earthshot City’ for this year’s festivities.
A Global Celebration of Environmental Innovation
The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William in 2020, has become one of the world’s most prestigious environmental initiatives, recognizing bold and creative efforts to combat climate change, restore nature, and promote sustainable living.
This year’s summit promises a week-long schedule of panels, workshops, and innovation showcases, bringing together world leaders, scientists, environmental entrepreneurs, and activists. The aim is to advance solutions that align with the Prize’s five key goals — known as the “Earthshots.”
According to the foundation’s official website, these goals were developed in collaboration with leading environmental experts and are designed to “repair the planet before irreversible damage occurs.”
Each year, from a shortlist of 15 finalists, five winners are selected to receive The Earthshot Prize — each honored for their outstanding contributions in categories such as Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.
From Vision to Action: Five Years of Earthshot
Since its inception, the Earthshot Prize has reviewed over 5,669 solutions, championed 75 finalists, and recognized 20 winners whose innovations range from coral restoration projects to carbon capture technologies.
Under Prince William’s leadership, the initiative has evolved into more than just an awards platform — it’s now a global movement driving actionable change.
“We must be bold. We must be innovative. And we must act now,” Prince William said in an earlier address, emphasizing the urgency of collaboration in tackling environmental crises.
The selection of Rio de Janeiro as this year’s host city reflects Earthshot’s mission to engage diverse global communities. The Brazilian metropolis — known for its vibrant culture and breathtaking natural beauty — has increasingly positioned itself as a hub for environmental innovation and conservation.
Building Momentum Ahead of Awards Night
As anticipation builds for the November 5th Awards Night, the Earthshot Foundation has hinted at major partnerships and announcements that will further scale up the winning solutions. Previous winners have gone on to secure millions in funding, expand into new markets, and influence government policies worldwide.
The 2025 Summit will mark a symbolic milestone for the initiative, approaching the halfway point toward its 2030 mission — a decade-long plan to identify and support 50 game-changing environmental solutions capable of transforming the planet’s future.
With global interest at an all-time high, the upcoming Rio Earthshot Summit is expected to reaffirm the initiative’s core message: that optimism, innovation, and collective action can still rewrite the story of climate change.
