The Earthshot Decade So Far — Reflections from CEO Jason Knauf

In late 2018, inspired by JFK’s moonshot, HRH Prince William set me and my colleague Zoe Ware a rigorous challenge to investigate the viability of an environmental prize that could accelerate impact at a global level.

In the year that followed, we worked with over 100 experts and leaders to shape a new platform to unite, celebrate, and empower the people and organisations driving the global mission to repair the planet by 2030.

We launched the Prize in 2020 and delivered our first awards in late 2021. I’m struck that today, the world has already become a very different place, even in just five short years.

And I don’t mean in the way you might be thinking.

Yes, there have been some setbacks in some of the big picture conversations and debates on the priority that should be given to climate and nature action. There’s no denying it.

But the reality is that five years on from our launch – a decade since the Paris Agreement put wind in the sails of the wider community of which we are a small part – the scale of positive action dwarfs what we thought could be possible.

The genie is well and truly out of the bottle and the greatest transition since the Industrial Revolution is in full swing.

And I am very proud that The Earthshot Prize is doing our bit.

Urgent Optimism = Action

I have been thrilled to see the Prize journey to five countries on five continents, reaching hundreds of millions with messages of optimism and examples of real action.

From over 6,000 nominated solutions worldwide, 75 were selected as Finalists, and 25 became Earthshot Prize Winners. But the real story isn’t the competition – it’s the collective impact these solutions represent.

• Renewables are now the fastest-growing source of energy globally, overtaking fossil fuels. What was once considered “alternative” is now becoming the default in many markets. In Guangzhou, the city’s fleet of public transport is now fuelled by electric buses, taxis and ferries – serving 24 million residents.
• Clean tech is no longer just better for the planet – it’s more cost-effective. In many regions, renewables and storage now outcompete fossil fuels on price alone. Form Energy in the US are ensuring renewables are reliable and bankable, which will drive down energy bills.
• Electric vehicles and low-carbon transport solutions are scaling rapidly. This is a structural shift, not a niche trend, and is rolling out globally – as in the case of Roam in Kenya.
• Major cities are proving that bold action works. From London to Bogotá, smart policies and innovative technologies are cutting pollution, improving public health, and reshaping urban life.
• Large-scale protection and restoration of nature is accelerating, powered by public-private partnerships. Initiatives like The High Seas Treaty and the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) show what’s possible when governments, finance, and innovators align.