IN PICS, VIDEO: Africa wins big at Earthshot Week 2024

CAPE TOWN - Organisers of the Earthshot Prize have revealed they received more than 5,000 eco-solution nominations since the £1 million grant was created four years ago. 

On Wednesday night, five more winners were announced for their work in, among other issues, ocean conservation, zero waste, renewable energy systems, and wildlife preservation.

It’s the first time the Earthshot gathering was held in Africa.

The brainchild of British royal Prince William, Earthshot looks to fund solutions to the climate crisis.

"I'm delighted to see the Earthshot Prize return to the continent where it all started. The continent that, despite contributing the least to global warming, is the most vulnerable. In 2024, nearly 400 nominations were conceived in Africa, a reminder that the continent is a hub of creativity and innovation."

Organisers said Cape Town was chosen as the host city for the metro’s effective climate change resilience policies, and its handling of climate-induced disasters, including water scarcity and wildfires.  

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde was among the dignitaries at the fourth annual Earthshot Prize on Wednesday night.

“It’s important that we are platformed here, so we can have these tough discussions. It’s about how we’re financing the future of climate change. We really want to play our part. We have to play our part because we are so affected in Africa.”

AFRICA’S INNOVATIONS PAY OFF

And Africa’s climate innovations were the big winners of the coveted environmental award.

Two of the five recipients of the £1 million Earthshot Prize awarded on Wednesday night were from the continent. 

Kenya’s Keep IT Cool bagged its grant funding for work in reducing food spoilage, by providing refrigeration systems that helped small farmers and fishers preserve their produce.

Keep IT Cool founder Francis Nderitu said the funding would help expand their concept.

“The problem of food loss is across Africa, it doesn’t know boundaries. We’re looking at expanding this solution beyond Kenya. The work starts now.”

Organisers said at least 1,000 eco-initiatives from Africa were nominated this year.

Among them was a youth-led initiative from Ghana that uses a zero-waste model to cut greenhouse gas emissions and particle pollution. 

The Green Africa Youth Organization’s (GOYA) Jacob Attakpah said their win was more significant because it was the first time the Earthshot gathering was held in Africa.

“For us as youth from Africa, it gives us great pleasure that we’ve been recognised. This is testament that the youth are truly leaders. This is a demonstration of youth leadership when it comes to innovation within the African continent."

Other winners of the coveted accolade include the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, for its work in ocean conservation.

The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative also received recognition for saving the endangered Saiga antelope in Central Asia. 

All 15 finalists spent the week in mentorship programs to help build on their ideas. 

Apart from the winners, to date, £86 million in endorsements have been raised for eco-solution finalists around the world.

SHOTS FROM THE GREEN CARPET