Prince
William unveils 'Earthshot prize' to tackle climate crisis
Move is
hailed by Sir David Attenborough as ‘the most prestigious environment prize in
history’
Agence
France-Presse
Wed 1 Jan
2020 04.49 GMT
Prince William’s Earthshot Prize to tackle the
climate crisis was hailed the ‘most prestigious environment prize in history’
by David Attenborough. Photograph: Reuters
Prince
William has announced what was described as “the most prestigious environment
prize in history” to encourage new solutions to tackling the climate crisis.
The
“Earthshot prize” will be awarded to five people every year over the next
decade, the Prince said on Tuesday, and aims to provide at least 50 answers to
some of the greatest problems facing the planet by 2030.
They
include promoting new ways of addressing issues such as energy, nature and
biodiversity, the oceans, air pollution and fresh water.
The prize,
inspired by US president John F Kennedy’s ambitious “Moonshot” lunar programme
and backed by Sir David Attenborough, promises “a significant financial award”,
a statement said.
The Duke of
Cambridge, a grandson of the Queen and second in line to the throne, said the
Earth was “at a tipping point” and faced a “stark choice”.
“Either we continue as we are and irreparably
damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our
continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve,” he said. “Remember the
awe-inspiring civilisations that we have built, the life-saving technology we
have created, the fact that we have put a man on the moon. People can achieve
great things.
“The next
10 years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to
repair the Earth,” he said.
Kensington
Palace
✔
@KensingtonRoyal
"The
earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as
we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as
human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and
problem-solve." — The Duke of Cambridge @EarthshotPrize
The award,
which will be launched later in the year and bestowed from 2021, is open to
individuals as well as communities and businesses.
It has the
support of conservation campaigners, groups and scientists, including the
veteran British natural history broadcaster Attenborough.
“The spirit
of the Moonshot can guide us today as we confront the serious challenges we
face on Earth,” Attenborough said in a film to mark the launch. “This year
Prince William and a global alliance launch the most prestigious environment
prize in history ... designed to motivate and inspire a new generation of
thinkers, leaders and dreamers to think differently.”
Both Prince
Charles and Prince Philip have campaigned for environmental causes and against
the illegal trade in wildlife around the world.
William is
hoping to build on their work through the prize, which will initially be run by
his and his wife’s own charitable foundation.
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