Rio de Janeiro set the scene for a high-profile evening as Prince William arrived to highlight environmental innovation at the fifth edition of the EarthShot Prize. The visit — his first formal trip to Latin America — came just days before Brazil opens the doors to the UN climate summit, COP30.
Launched in 2020 after William’s trip to Namibia, the EarthShot Prize is designed as a ten-year push to surface bold, scalable responses to environmental threats. Borrowing the ambition of a “moonshot,” the programme awards five winners with £1 million each to accelerate solutions addressing climate change, pollution, biodiversity decline and related global issues.
William struck a measured, encouraging tone, acknowledging the scale of the problems but urging perseverance rather than despair. He told the audience he understood why people might feel discouraged, yet stressed the continuing need for determined action and hope.
The gala drew a diverse crowd of entertainers and public figures, from Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes to Brazilian musicians Gilberto Gil, Seu Jorge and Anitta, alongside former Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were also present, underscoring the international support for the initiative.
Beyond the awards, the prince used the visit to unveil new efforts to back Indigenous communities and frontline environmental campaigners. He also visited key Rio landmarks to observe conservation work in person and meet local partners.
Now halfway through its decade-long mission, the EarthShot Prize aims to spark practical innovation around the world. William is set to continue his environmental engagements at COP30, representing King Charles and reinforcing the UK’s role in global sustainability efforts.
Through projects like EarthShot, Prince William continues to press for climate action, inspire new leaders and spotlight solutions that can be scaled for a greener future.
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