Prince William announces 15 finalists for annual Earthshot Prize: Bearded royal appears on video to unveil entries competing for £5million in prize money

Prince William today announced the 15 finalists of his prestigious annual Earthshot Prize awards competing for £5 million in prize money.

They were selected from a record entry of nearly 2,500 nominations from 139 countries, each boasting a pioneering solution to the most pressing climate and environmental challenges facing the world today.

The Prince of Wales recorded his video message in Windsor last month and appeared to be continuing his summer 'glow up' wearing a navy 'shacket' - a trendy shirt/jacket hybrid - with his much talked about beard.

The Earthshot Prize is one of the heir to the throne's big 'passion projects' and looks to find and upscale positive solutions to the climate crisis in five key areas: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build A Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate.

Fifteen entrants have made it through to the finals in each of the categories, which will be held in Cape Town in November. 

They were chosen by an advisory panel comprised of more than 100 experts from across the globe with backgrounds in conservation, science and technology, business, finance, academia and policy.

The eventual winners will be given a £1million prize each to develop their initiatives with support and guidance from the Earthshot team.

They will be decided by members of the Earthshot Prize Council including William, Queen Rania of Jordan, actress Cate Blanchett and environment legend Sir David Attenborough.

Among those competing are: 

• the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Alliance from Ecuador, comprising 30 indigenous nations that protect an area the size of Germany in the rainforest; 
• a company which is on track to provide more than a billion people across Africa with clean solar home energy solutions; 
• a UK company, MiAlgae which provides an environmentally friendly food source for farmed fish; 
• a US firm developing biodegradable natural fibres to replaces plastics in the fashion, footwear and automobile industries; and
• a social enterprise making earthquake-resilient low carbon bricks in Nepal.

The Earthshot Prize was founded by William in 2020 and will herald a total 50 winners over ten years, with a £100million prize pot. This year is the fourth annual awards.

In his message, William says: 'Today, we celebrate the incredible achievement, unwavering dedication and urgent optimism that drives our fourth class of Earthshot innovator.

'The passion of these Finalists is a testament to what can be achieved when we tap into the enormous creativity, ingenuity, and optimism of communities around the world.

'Representing every corner of the globe, these Finalists are leading the way in solving some of the most urgent environmental challenges. 

'Their groundbreaking work is inspiring hope and action as we work to create a sustainable future for generations to come.'