26 Jun 2025
The Earthshot Prize is turning Rio de Janeiro into a global hub for youth climate action.
Our Generation Earthshot programme – comprised of a flagship leadership programme alongside partnership initiatives including Mini COP and the launch of a post-graduate climate leaders course – will unite young people worldwide to tackle major environmental challenges and grow into the climate leaders of tomorrow.
Founded by HRH Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize is powering a decade of urgent optimism for the planet, identifying, celebrating and backing bold climate solutions from around the world.
Generation Earthshot is a vital part of this mission. From 2 to 5 November, the programme will unite young changemakers to build leadership skills, share solutions, expand their networks, and voice both their hopes and anxieties for the future.
Designed to empower the next generation of environmental leaders, Generation Earthshot is delivered in partnership with Common Purpose and Youth Climate Leaders (YCL), with proud support from the Climate and Society Institute (iCS), Temasek Foundation, and TPC (Tsao Pao Chee).
This four-day programme will include curated workshops, panels, and an immersive experience at the iconic Maracanã Stadium – offering this year’s cohort the chance to be inspired by the player with the most appearances for the Brazilian national team and captain of the 2002 FIFA World Cup winning team Cafu.
Building on momentum from past host cities like Cape Town and Singapore, 25 young leaders (aged 18–30) from Asia and South Africa will join 50 Brazilians, selected from over 500 applicants, for a unique cross-cultural exchange. The Brazilian cohort includes innovators from grassroots collectives, Indigenous federations, academic institutions, and social enterprises, representing diverse regions and key ecological zones across the country – from the Amazon and Cerrado to the Atlantic Forest.
Participants will sharpen essential skills to become climate leaders and build global networks to create a lasting impact. The 2025 cohort will have the unique opportunity to join The Earthshot Prize Awards Night.
The programme will be delivered in partnership with Common Purpose and Youth Climate Leaders (YCL), and proudly supported by The Climate and Society Institute (iCS), Temasek Foundation and TPC (Tsao Pao Chee).
In partnership with the Alana Foundation, this dynamic climate negotiation simulation will bring together 15 11–16 year olds from across Brazil’s diverse regions and cultures.
Through hands-on activities, they will explore how the climate crisis impacts their lives and craft creative solutions – all while connecting directly with global leaders as part of the official programme.
The Earthshot Climate Leadership Programme in partnership with Insper – a non-profit institution dedicated to education and research in Brazil – will empower a new generation of climate leaders to play an active role in Brazil’s transition towards a sustainable economy.
Spanning one-and-a-half years and including an international outlook that will help connect participants with the global Earthshot community, the programme will be a certified postgraduate course (lato sensu).
Insper will offer 40 places per cohort, with the first cohort starting in the first half of 2026. Six cohorts are expected by 2030, ensuring the programme’s impact and the training of around 240 emerging climate leaders who can help Brazil move toward a low-carbon economy.
Prince William with participants from The Earthshot Prize Climate Leaders Youth Programme in Cape Town, 2024
These programmes launch at a critical time. New research from GlobeScan and BBMG across 31 countries shows Gen Z is disproportionately feeling the emotional weight of the climate crisis – with nearly half feeling “greatly personally affected” and four in 10 experiencing frequent anxiety.
This highlights the urgent need to equip young people with both leadership skills and meaningful pathways to action – a core mission of The Earthshot Prize’s youth initiatives.
The Earthshot Prize Youth Programme was truly life changing. It brought together changemakers from across the globe, connecting us with Finalists, youth leaders, and advocates to create a supportive, cross-cultural community that continues to empower me.
I’ve built lasting friendships, collaborated internationally, and gained new perspectives that I now bring into my own work, building sustainable community programmes. It reminded me that inclusive leadership is possible – and that we can all be each other’s cheerleaders in this movement, to help overcome barriers and climate anxiety, and continue to make an impact.
I’m excited to be part of Generation Earthshot and to meet these incredible young people – the future leaders from around the world who will drive change for our planet.
It’s inspiring to see this energy coming from Brazil, a country with such creativity, passion and potential, and I’m proud to support them on this journey.
The Earthshot Prize Youth Programme didn’t just open doors – it gave me the courage to walk through them. Being surrounded by fellow young innovators, passionate facilitators, and the inspiring Earthshot community – including His Royal Highness Prince William – has truly expanded my sense of what’s possible.
The programme validated my work, expanded my connections, gave me an incredible mentor and the confidence to aim higher, and reminded me that every effort, no matter how small, matters. Since participating, I’ve built a first-of-its-kind factory in my village to produce our eco-friendly bags, created local jobs, increased our recycling capacity, and started tracking our environmental impact.
This programme is more than just a network, it’s a community that inspires me to keep pushing for a better future.
As we reach the halfway point of the Earthshot Decade, at this pivotal moment for our planet, we are proud to bring The Earthshot Prize to a region that is brimming with creativity and urgency. Nowhere is this spirit more evident than in the climate leaders of tomorrow, who inspire us by highlighting the immense challenges ahead and incredible possibilities that arise when we unite, share knowledge and turn ambition into action.
Rio, a city known for its cultural vibrancy, passion and optimism, is the perfect backdrop to showcase youth climate leadership to the world. The Earthshot Prize platform connects them to an unprecedented network of organisations, empowering their journey and building a lasting legacy for Brazil and the world.
This is the first time that The Earthshot Prize Awards Night is being held in Latin America, an historic milestone that reinforces Brazil’s leading role in the global climate agenda.
Shortly afterwards, the country will host COP30 in Belém, consolidating its role as a central voice in addressing the environmental challenges of this decade.
