Prince William has announced the five winners of the 2024 Earthshot Prize who will each receive £1 million to develop their businesses.
The 2024 Earthshot Prize Winners, selected from this year’s 15 finalists, were announced at an awards ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa.
The winners were selected by Prince William and The Earthshot Prize Council, chaired by The Earthshot Prize Board of Trustees Chair, Dame Christiana Figueres, architect of the Paris Agreement.
Members of The Earthshot Prize Council include Prince William, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, José Andrés, Sir David Attenborough, Cate Blanchett, Ernest Gibson, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Wanjira Mathai, Stella McCartney, Nemonte Nenquimo, Luisa Neubauer, Indra Nooyi, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Naoko Yamazaki.
Following a selection process, the five winners are:
- Protect and Restore Nature: Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, Kazakstan.
- Clean Our Air: Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), Ghana.
- Revive Our Oceans: High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, Global.
- Build a Waste-Free World: Keep IT Cool, Kenya, and Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems (ATS), USA.
- Fix Our Climate: Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, USA.
Commenting on the announcement, Prince William, Founder and President of The Earthshot Prize, said: “Today, we celebrate the incredible achievements of our 2024 Earthshot Prize Winners and Finalists.
“These visionary innovators from Africa and beyond are not just solving the environmental challenges facing their communities – they are lighting the path for a sustainable future for us all.
“Their groundbreaking work demonstrates that with the right support and collaboration, we can scale solutions that will repair and regenerate our planet. Let their success inspire us to act with urgency and optimism, ensuring a thriving world for future generations.”
Keep It Cool (KIC), one of the winners of the “Build a Waste-Free World”, provides sustainable, localised refrigeration systems that help small farmers and fishers preserve their produce.
By installing solar-powered cold storage units where fish are landed, the Earthshot Prize said KIC significantly reduces spoilage and waste by ensuring the catch stays fresh and managing its transport to market.
KIC is now working to expand its activities in poultry, fruit, and vegetables and aims to bring its solution to more communities.
Let their success inspire us to act with urgency and optimism, ensuring a thriving world for future generations.
Francis Nderitu, Founder and Managing Director of Keep IT Cool, commented: “We are on a mission to revolutionise the food supply chain in East Africa. We are grateful for the recognition from The Earthshot Prize, and it is an important milestone for Keep IT Cool. “
“We will continue to enhance market access, reduce waste and build climate resilience for small-scale fish and poultry farmers throughout the region.”
Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems (ATS) also won in the Build a Waste-Free World category after developing scalable technology to capture waste heat and convert it into electricity.
Kelly Adams, CEO of Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, said: “At ATS, we are proud to lead the way in converting this waste into clean, usable electricity. Winning the 2024 Earthshot Prize underscores the transformative potential of our technology.”
“Tonight is a key moment for us as we focus on scaling up production in larger manufacturing facilities.”
Green Africa Youth Organisation GAYO won in the “Clean Our Air” category for its “Zero Waste Model” that drives behavioural change in waste management practices across Africa that cut greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution, while also bringing additional income to communities.
GAYO’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution in Ghana by 70%, compared to open burning, as well as divert a total of 4,000 tonnes of waste by 2030.
Desmond Alugnoa, Co-Founder of the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), said: “We are incredibly honoured to be winning the Prize, which is a testament to the power of community-driven solutions and the importance of empowering those most affected by climate challenges.”
“Our work in Ghana demonstrates that sustainable waste management isn’t just a possibility—it’s a necessity. The recognition by The Earthshot Prize fuels our commitment to replicating these models across Africa, proving that local solutions can have global impacts.”
