Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is set to unveil the winners of his prestigious Earthshot Prize during a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday evening. This event marks the culmination of a three-day visit to the Brazilian metropolis, which has been centered on environmental advocacy and conservation efforts. The trip precedes his attendance at the United Nations Climate Summit, COP30, in the Amazon city of Belem.
Since arriving in Rio on Monday, Prince William has engaged in a series of high-profile activities, including a meeting with former soccer legend Cafu at Maracana Stadium, a volleyball game on Copacabana Beach, and a visit to the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain. Beyond these cultural experiences, his itinerary has been dominated by climate-focused initiatives. He participated in a global wildlife summit and joined a mangrove restoration project in Guanabara Bay, where he took part in a tree-planting activity.
The Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William in 2020 through his Royal Foundation, aims to inspire innovative solutions to combat climate change and its impacts. This year’s ceremony, held at the Museum of Tomorrow in downtown Rio, is the first to take place in Latin America. Five winners will receive grants totaling $1.3 million to support their sustainable and eco-friendly projects. Among the finalists are a Brazilian startup leveraging Artificial Intelligence for forest restoration and a British company tackling microplastic pollution.
The event also highlights broader environmental initiatives, such as the United Nations High Seas Treaty, Guangzhou’s leadership in public transport electrification, and Lagos Fashion Week’s promotion of sustainable clothing. The ceremony will feature performances by renowned artists, including Anitta, Gilberto Gil, Kylie Minogue, Seu Jorge, and Shawn Mendes.
Prince William’s visit to Brazil underscores his commitment to environmental leadership and positions him as a statesman ready to assume the British throne. Following the awards, he will head to COP30, where global leaders will discuss strategies to accelerate carbon emission reductions and combat global warming.