Meet the Earthshot 2024 finalists

On Tuesday at this year's New York Climate Week, dozens of changemakers gathered for The Earthshot Prize 's Innovation Summit. With panels featuring everyone from politicians and activists to founders and actors, the Summit highlighted the scale and urgency of the crisis our planet is facing. As Jane Fonda stressed in her speech, "We do not have a moment to waste."

But as much as climate change poses a growing risk to all life on Earth, the event also highlighted that there are game-changing solutions out there that can turn things around. "We have plenty of science to save the ocean, but as humans and as leaders, we aren’t doing enough," big wave surfer Maya Gabeira emphasised. Earthshot is all about bringing that 'science' and these solutions to scale so they can have the impact we urgently need.

To finish off the Summit, Earthshot CEO Hannah Jones revealed the 15 finalists for this year's Prize. From sustainable seaweed farming to low-carbon bricks, this year's finalists have been through a rigorous vetting process to be selected as some of the most promising solutions to our world's biggest problems, and Springwise is thrilled to be supporting Earthshot as both storytelling partner and an official nominator.

Launched in 2020 by Prince William, The Earthshot Prize is the world’s most prestigious environmental prize, designed to discover, spotlight, and scale groundbreaking solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.

The five winners, hand-selected by Prince William and the prestigious Earthshot Prize Council, will be revealed at the annual Earthshot Prize Awards, which will this year be held on 6th November 2024 in Cape Town. The winning solutions will each receive a ￡1 million award as well as technical support, mentorship, and resources to scale globally.

We'll be delving more into these amazing solutions in the lead-up. For now though, read on to get to know this year's finalists.

The Earthshot finalists

Protect and restore nature

Goal: 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 finalists

Almost half of Kazakhstan’s Golden Steppe, a vast ecosystem of grasslands, was degraded or destroyed during the Soviet era. The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative works closely with expert nature organisations and local communities to restore this ancient landscape, helping to protect critically endangered species like the Saiga Antelope.

Over 80 per cent of the Amazon rainforest is currently under threat from activities like oil drilling and logging. The Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance brings together the expertise of 28 member organisations, including indigenous groups, to help protect the Amazon.

Ecosystems are highly complex, which can make it hard for environmental teams to measure conservation efforts. Measuring the environmental DNA of an area, NatureMetrics can get an accurate snapshot of an ecosystem’s health, even from a small soil sample, transforming traditional biodiversity data collection. (We featured NatureMetrics on Springwise back in 2022 – take a look at the story here.)

Clean our air

Goal: By 2030, we choose to ensure that everyone breathes clean, healthy air – at World Health Organization standard or better.

The finalists

Around 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack reliable electricity access, relying on unsustainable and polluting fuel sources instead. To improve access to clean energy, d.light produces solar-powered appliances and home lighting systems that are available via easy and affordable pay-as-you-go schemes.

Africa is undergoing rapid urban growth, but waste management systems are struggling to keep up. Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) works with stakeholders to support sustainable waste management, training and employing community members and reducing pollution across the region.

During palm oil production, leftover palm fruit and shells are often burnt, releasing CO2 emissions and harmful pollution into the air. Instead, MYCL | Mycotech Lab buys this palm waste from farmers before it’s incinerated and uses it to grow mycelium into a leather-like material.

Revive our oceans

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

The finalists

Seaweed is being used in more and more products, from skincare to plastic alternatives. Coast 4C supports smallholder seaweed farmers and fishers to promote regenerative coastal agriculture.

Species on land and in our oceans are under threat. The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People was instrumental in securing COP15's 30x30 biodiversity agreement and is now working to ensure these targets are met.

Millions of wild fish are caught every year just for their Omega-3. MiAlgae has developed a greener way to produce Omega-3 – using microalgae.

Build a waste-free world

Goal: 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 finalists

The world wastes the equivalent of one billion meals a day. Green Spot Technologies has created Ferment'up, a range of nutritious, circular ingredients made using commercial food processing waste.

A lack of cold storage and transport causes huge amounts of food waste in Africa. Keep IT Cool | Earthshot Prize Winner 24 provides farmers and fishers with solar refrigeration and connects them with buyers to ensure produce gets sold.

When plastic isn’t recycled properly, it clogs up landfills and pollutes our oceans. NFW (Natural Fiber Welding) uses natural ingredients to create plastic-free compostable materials. (We first spotted NFW back in 2020 –?take a look at the story here.)

Fix our climate

Goal: 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 finalists

Industries like steel and cement have massive carbon footprints, generating 2.6 gigatonnes of CO2 every year. Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems has created a scalable system that converts waste heat into energy.

Construction generates 37 per cent of Nepal’s total carbon emissions. Build up Nepal has made a durable, low-carbon replacement for clay-fired bricks that can be used to build earthquake-resistant homes.

As we produce more emissions, the oceans absorbs more CO2 than is safe. Equatic.tech extracts carbon from seawater and permanently traps it in stable carbonate materials.

The search for the winners of The Earthshot Prize 2025 will begin shortly and Springwise is proud to be an Official Nominator. The Earthshot Prize will consider solutions that make tangible progress towards one of the five Earthshots, have been tested in-field, and are at a ‘tipping point’ for scaling.

For more information about what The Earthshot Prize looks for, please read the new Roadmap. If you have a solution that is inspiring, inclusive, and impactful, please get in touch with [email protected] for a further discussion.