22 Apr 2024
From news of a transformational $1 billion being unlocked for ocean conservation to a ban on climate-damaging advertisements in public places and a record-breaking carbon credit project, our Finalists are creating genuine real-world impact.
Here are some of the optimism inspiring stories you might have missed recently.
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Bonds for Ocean Conservation have announced a new partnership with Britain’s biggest asset manager, Legal & General, and specialist credit firm, Enosis Capital, that will unlock $1 billion over five years for marine protection.
The 2025 Earthshot Prize Finalist helps governments refinance their national debt, freeing up money that can be invested into projects that revive our oceans.
The money made available through this latest partnership will be transformational in helping governments reliably fund long-term activities that both protect marine ecosystems and strengthen the resilience of communities on the frontline of climate change.
Bonds for Ocean Conservation, pioneered by the Debt for Nature Coalition, is scaling ocean protection.
Part of a growing movement across the Netherlands, The City of Amsterdam is set to ban climate-damaging advertising. Due to come into force in May this year, the new policy will mean adverts for fossil fuel and meat products will not be allowed in public spaces or on the city’s public transport network.
In 2022, The City of Amsterdam was an Earthshot Prize Finalist in the Build a Waste-Free World category for their work to make the city a fully circular economy.
This latest move is another step forward towards a sustainable future for millions.
The City of Amsterdam is set to ban advertising for meat and fossil fuel related products in public places
2025 Finalist Form Energy is teaming up with Xcel Energy and Google to deploy a massive iron-air battery system. This project will power a new AI data centre with reliable, affordable renewable energy and, at 30 GWh, will be the largest battery system by energy capacity ever announced globally.
Form Energy’s iron-air batteries can store electricity for 100 hours, creating a future where cheap, reliable energy is available to everyone. Based in the heart of the American Rust Belt, they are creating hundreds of jobs and retraining a new generation of skilled workers with a technology that can change the world.
This milestone shows that solutions to our energy challenges exist – and they’re being built today.
Form Energy’s breakthrough iron-air batteries are enabling the shift to clean energy-powered data centres.
The Emissions Market Accelerator, one of the key players behind 2025 Clean Our Air Finalist, The State of Gujarat, announced during Mumbai Climate Week that they are expanding their cap-and-trade scheme to more Indian states.
By setting a limit on an area’s total pollution, their innovative ‘emissions market’ concept allows companies that cut emissions to sell their spare allowances, while those that exceed the limit must buy more. It’s a solution that keeps pollution capped while rewarding cleaner industry.
With discussions advancing positively in Rajasthan, their work in Maharashtra would be India’s first market-based scheme to reduce levels of harmful sulphur dioxide. Covering 17 of the state’s most polluting sectors, it’s an initiative that could help clean the air for tens of millions more people.
Emissions markets let businesses grow while providing clean, healthier air for its citizens.
2021 Finalist, SOLshare, and 2023 Winner, GRST, have joined forces to replace the toxic lead-acid batteries in five million electric rickshaws in Bangladesh with water-recyclable lithium-ion batteries.
By pairing GRST’s sustainable battery technology with SOLshare’s payment and monitoring systems, the new batteries are much more efficient and prevent harmful “forever chemicals” from entering the environment. Along with cutting pollution, each battery replaced represents a 2.5 tonne reduction in carbon emissions and a direct boost to driver incomes.
Partnerships like these prove that through collaboration we can clean up transportation for everyone.
SOLshare and GRST will replace lead-acid batteries in five million electric rickshaws in Bangladesh
2023 Fix our Climate Finalist, Boomitra, has released the largest amount of soil carbon credits in history. Over 3 million credits, independently verified by Verra, have been generated through their Grassland Restoration Project in Northern Mexico.
By helping local ranchers improve their soil’s natural ability to absorb and store carbon, Boomitra creates credits that companies can buy to offset their own emissions. Crucially, at least 75% of this revenue goes directly back to the ranchers, helping local communities earn a reliable living from protecting the land.
With major organisations like Deloitte and Ethereum already on board, this project proves that soil carbon credits can be a vital tool to tackle our climate challenges.
3 million soil carbon credits have been generated at Boomitra’s Grassland Restoration Project in Mexico.
The Earthshot Prize Finalists represent the most ambitious and inspiring solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.
The impact they’re having around the world shows that a better, fairer future is possible for both people and planet.
