Earthshot Prize awards 2024: What are they, how to watch and who is performing?

A star-studded line-up is set to descend on South Africa in November for the awards ceremony in Cape Town.

Activists, environmentalists, politicians, innovators and those who care about the planet are gearing up for the latest edition of the annual event.

Since its creation in 2020, the Earthshot Prize has helped fund the development of various technological solutions geared toward supporting our planet. So far, £15m have been awarded to the winners, helping to support a new generation of environmentalists who are taking action for future generations.

More than 60 per cent of submissions also came from the Global South, showcasing some of the very best developments and innovations from across the globe.

While it is unclear which royals will attend later this year, the occasion is certainly expected to be momentous.

A royal source said: “The prize has become the prince’s Super Bowl moment of the year, and he looks forward to continuing to use the platform each year to shine a light on some of the most impactful projects doing amazing things around the world to save our planet’s future.”

What is the Earthshot Prize?

Inspired by the late US President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” challenge that pioneered space travel in the 1960s, it is a global environmental prize. It aims to discover and scale the best solutions to help repair the planet in the rest of this decade.

The prize is in its fourth year, and while we don’t know who this year’s finalists are, more details are likely to be revealed closer to the event.

In previous years, marine programmes to end illegal fishing and High Andean ecosystem support networks are just a couple of examples of important projects that have gained the support and recognition they deserved at the event.

Those who win the Earthshot Prize almost always go on to have a massive environmental impact.

Notpla, a start-up run by Pierre Paslier and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez in London, that makes packaging from seaweed and plants as an alternative to single-use plastic won in 2022. It has produced more than one million biodegradable takeaway food boxes for the food delivery firm Just Eat.

Who will be performing at the Earthshot Prize awards 2024?

Aside from supporting the environment , it’s also a star-studded event. There haven’t been any announcements about this year's performances, but if previous years are anything to go by, we’re in for a treat.

In the past, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Billie Eilish , singer-songwriter and activist Annie Lennox ,  R&B duo Chloe x Halle, and platinum-selling artist as well as activist Ellie Goulding have all taken to the stage.

Goulding said: “I am a big supporter of the Prince of Wales’ passion for the environment and share in the Earthshot Prize’s mission to protect and restore our planet. I am particularly excited for viewers around the world to learn about the innovative solutions presented by this year’s cohort of finalists.”

How to watch the awards ceremony

Last year, 27 million people tuned in to watch the Earthshot Prize on TV and online. So, it’s a clear sign that people care.

As with previous years, the Earthshot Prize 2024 will likely be broadcast on BBC and available to stream on its YouTube Channel.

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