Earthshot Prize 2021

• 18 Sep 2021

Why in News

Recently, two Indians (Vinisha and Vidyut) among 15 finalists were selected for the first ever Earthshot Prize 2021, which will be held in London.

• A 14-year-old Tamil Nadu schoolgirl’s solar-powered ironing cart and a Delhi entrepreneur’s agricultural waste recycling concept named among finalists.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • The prize was launched by Britain’s Prince William in October 2020 in order to search for inspiring and innovative solutions to problems facing the planet.
  • The prize is inspired by US President John F Kennedy's "Moonshot" programme, which resulted in the US Apollo lunar launches and the first man setting foot on the Moon in 1969.
• Theme:
  
  • It is centred around five “Earthshots”, simple but ambitious goals for the planet, which if achieved by 2030 will improve life for all, for generations to come.
• Five Earthshots:
  
  • Protect and restore nature
  • Clean our air
  • Revive our oceans
  • Build a waste-free world
  • Fix our climate.
• Awards Ceremony:
  
  • It will take place in different cities across the world each year between 2021 and 2030, at which the five winners for each of the Earthshots will be selected from 15 finalists.
• Benefits to Winners:
  
  • After the awards, each winner will receive a global platform and prestigious profile, with their stories being showcased over the decade with the ambition that their solutions lead to mass adoption, replication and scaling.
    
    • The 1 million pound in prize money will support environmental and conservation projects that are agreed with a winner.
• Eligibility:
  
  • Prizes can be awarded to a wide range of individuals, teams or collaborations such as scientists, activists, economists, community projects etc, which make a substantial contribution to achieving the Earthshots.
• Prize Management:
  
  • In addition to the Prize Council, the Earthshot Prize is supported by its Global Alliance, a network of organisations worldwide which share the ambition of the Prize to repair the planet.

Source: IE