5 Winners of the First Earthshot Prize 2021

So what is the Earthshot Prize?

The Earthshot prize is a global environmental prize that has been designed and put together to motivate companies to deliver solutions that will help clean and repair our planet. It has been split into five different ‘Earthshots’. These are goals that if delivered successfully then by 2030 they will have a real positive impact for us and the future generations. The five Earthshots are underpinned by scientifically agreed targets including UN Sustainable Development Goals to help repair our planet.

The Earthshot prize is decided by a prestigious council of individuals from a wide range of sectors all of whom have committed to champion positive action in the environmental space. The council is made up of: Prince William, Her Majesty Queen Rina Al Abdullah, Cate Blanchett, Christina Figueres, Daniel Alves Da Silva, Sir David Attenborough, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Indra Nooyi, Jack Ma, Luisa Neubauer, Naoko Yamazaki, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Shakira, Yao Ming.By 2030, the Earthshot aims to: protect and restore nature; clean our air, revive our oceans; build a waste free world; and fix our climate.

Protect and Restore Nature

By 2030, we choose to ensure that, for the first time in human history, the natural world is growing - not shrinking - on our planet.

The 2021 winner is: Republic of Costa Rica. In the 1900s, Costa Rica's forests were at half of their former size, so the people and their Ministry of Environment developed a programme that paid people to protect forests, plant trees, and restore the ecosystem. From this programme, the forests have now doubled in size, which in turn led to a boom in ecotourism which contributed $4 Billion to their economy.

Clean our Air

By 2030, we choose to ensure that everyone in the world breathes clean, healthy air - at world health organisation standard or better.

The 2021 winner is: Takachar. Every single year around $120 Billion of agricultural waste is generated, and this is often burned causing air pollution which can reduce life expectancy by up to 10 years. Takachar has developed a cheap, small-scale, portable technology that attaches to tractors. This device is able to convert crop residues into sellable bio-products like fuel and fertiliser and has helped to reduce smoke emissions by 98%.

Revive our Oceans

By 2030, we choose to repair and preserve our oceans for future generations.

The 2021 winner is: Coral Vita. Ocean warming is set to destroy 90% of the coral reefs by 2050, which will kill the marine life that depends on the coral to survive. Coral Vira grows coral on land to then replant it in the ocean and this method can actually grow coral up to 50 times faster than other methods. Not only do they restore coral reefs, but they also work with local communities, and others to improve education and prevent this from happening again.

Build a Waste Free World

By 2030, we choose to build a world where nothing goes to waste, where the leftovers of one process become the raw materials of the next - just like they do in nature.

The 2021 winner is: The City of Milan Food Waste Hubs. 25-30% of the world’s greenhouse emissions are generated by the global food system. The City of Milan has enforced a city-wide food waste policy which recovers food from supermarkets and companies canteens and then distributes it to those in need. There are three hubs throughout the city and each has recovered around 130 tonnes of food per year. The great thing about this programme is the blueprint that has been created and can be scaled throughout the world.

Fix our Climate

By 2030, we choose to fix the world’s climate by cutting out carbon: Building a carbon neutral economy that lets every culture, community and country thrive.

The 2021 winner is: AEM Electrolyser. With 30% of energy used coming from renewable sources, there still remains 70% which powers industry and transport. Enapter is targeting this 70% by using its ARM Electrolyser technology which turns renewable electricity into emission free hydrogen gas, and the technology already fuels cars, planes and powers industry. By 2050 Enapter’s vision is to account for 10% of the world’s hydrogen generation.