Prince William has been recognised by TIME as one of the world’s leading figures in the fight against climate change, a nod to the growing global impact of the Earthshot Prize he founded.
The Prince of Wales launched the initiative in 2020 with an ambitious idea: find people tackling some of the planet’s biggest environmental challenges and give their solutions the support and attention needed to take them further.
According to the Earthshot’s latest impact report, its finalists have collectively helped avoid or capture more than 18 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
The finalists have helped protect or restore around 143 million acres of land, forests and freshwater ecosystems, while their work has contributed to better air quality for an estimated 600 million people worldwide.
For William, however, the prize has never been about simply recognising the people with the biggest ideas.
Its purpose is to bring those ideas into the spotlight and connect innovators with the people, funding and networks that can help them grow.
The recognition from comes at an important moment for the Prince of Wales and his environmental initiative, with the next Earthshot Prize ceremony due to take place in Mumbai on November 17.
