Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on November 6, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Prince William promotes optimism at the EarthShot Prize event in Rio, emphasizing the need for action on environmental challenges before COP30.
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Britain's Prince William expressed optimism on Wednesday about tackling global environmental challenges at a star-studded event in Rio de Janeiro for the fifth edition of his EarthShot Prize.
William's first visit to Latin America comes shortly before Brazil hosts the UN climate summit COP30 next week.
"I understand that some might feel discouraged in these uncertain times," William said during the ceremony for the award, founded in 2020 and inspired by a visit to Namibia.
"I understand that there is still so much to be done. But this is no time for complacency, and the optimism I felt in 2020 remains ardent today."
Named in homage to John F. Kennedy's "moonshot" goal, the award was intended to foster significant environmental progress within a decade that has now reached its midpoint.
The prize, which aims to find innovations to combat climate change, and tackle other green issues, awards five winners 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) each to drive their projects.
Pop stars Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes, Brazilian musicians Gilberto Gil, Seu Jorge and Anitta, along with former Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, were among those who appeared or performed at the ceremony.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan also attended.
William will attend the UN climate summit in place of his father, King Charles. On his trip, he announced initiatives for Indigenous communities and environmental activists, and visited landmarks in Rio.
(Reporting by Andre Romani in Sao Paulo and Michael Holden in London; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
The EarthShot Prize is an environmental award founded by Prince William in 2020, aimed at fostering significant progress in tackling climate change and other environmental issues.
Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other elements of the Earth's climate system, primarily driven by human activities.
Sustainability is the practice of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often focusing on environmental, social, and economic balance.
The UN climate summit is a global meeting where countries discuss and negotiate actions to combat climate change, aiming to enhance international cooperation and commitments.
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