The renowned Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro will shine in green lights this week to honor Prince William’s global Earthshot Awards. The Prince of Wales has landed in Brazil for a three-day event celebrating the nominees and winners of his significant environmental initiative, marking its debut in Latin America.
The Earthshot Prize will reach its pinnacle with an extravagant awards ceremony at Rio’s modern Museum of Tomorrow on Wednesday, where five winners will each receive £1 million to advance their innovative ideas for saving the planet. Following a challenging period for the royal family, particularly amidst the scandal involving former prince Andrew, Prince William aims to redirect attention to his Brazil tour. The tour will conclude on Friday with a visit to the COP climate summit in Belem, known as ‘the gateway to the Amazon.’
Earthshot, featuring £1 million prizes in five categories, stands as one of Prince William’s flagship concepts. This week, the initiative celebrated the halfway mark of its decade-long journey across various countries globally. Inspired by U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 “Moonshot” speech, which urged Americans to reach the moon by the decade’s end, William’s vision is to hasten environmental innovation to combat issues like climate change, plastic pollution in oceans, and wildlife habitat loss by 2030.
Chosen from nearly 2,500 nominees spanning 72 countries, the 2025 Finalists embody extraordinary climate leadership. The ceremony is anticipated to attract a combined audience of 34 million in Brazil and the UK, making it the largest in the prize’s history. Broadcasts on BBC and Globo will ensure widespread coverage.
Excited for his maiden visit to Rio de Janeiro, the Prince of Wales expressed his anticipation to explore Brazil’s vibrant culture, diverse biodiversity, and the warmth of its people. Emphasizing the significance of Brazil’s role in climate leadership, he highlighted the Earthshot Prize as a platform to acknowledge and draw inspiration from those driving positive change towards a sustainable future. William will include a visit to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue in his itinerary on Wednesday.
Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, commented on the impressive global network of climate leaders established within five years, emphasizing the community’s commitment to supporting existing solutions to major challenges. At the midpoint of the Earthshot Decade, momentum towards a sustainable future is described as unstoppable.
Concurrently, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have settled into their permanent residence, Forest Lodge, with their children, having vacated Adelaide Cottage in Windsor’s Home Park. The move, coinciding with the children’s half term, signifies a fresh start for the family post-Kate’s recovery from illness. As William gears up for the Earthshot Prize Awards in Rio, the family’s proximity to William’s uncle, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park is noted, albeit with a distance of about 1.4 miles separating the residences.