Earthshot prize: African finalists talk climate innovation ahead of Awards ceremony

By Bonface ORUCHO

From the Prince of Wales to thousands of climate innovators, Cape Town is alive with a mix of talent, visionaries, and investors as it hosts the 2024 Earthshot Prize.

Stakeholders believe Africa’s contributions are vital in building resilience and delivering solutions to protect our planet’s future.

According to Hannah Jones, the CEO of The Earthshot Prize, Africa is a vital region in building global climate resilience because of its innovative spirit, young population, and unique ability to leapfrog traditional development models.

“Companies like Multichoice and a community of African nominators told us stories of innovation, youth creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit—stories we wanted to see for ourselves,” she expressed in an interview with bird story agency.

“Cape Town, for instance, has faced its own climate struggles, like Day Zero, where water nearly ran out, and frequent wildfires. This event is a celebration of the city and its resilience and a reminder of Africa’s sustainability leadership,” she added.

The prestigious prize event will culminate today (November 6) in the unveiling of five winners, each of whom will be awarded £1 million (more than US$1.2 million) to bring their climate-saving ideas to life.

The Mother City is hosting this prestigious event for the first time on African soil, highlighting the continent’s rising influence in global climate leadership.

Beyond the prize money, the Earthshot Prize is creating immense global impact through its robust network. Recently, it announced that support for its alumni has surpassed £86 million (over US$110 million), underscoring the Prize’s role in scaling environmental solutions worldwide.

In the press statement, the Earthshot Prize revealed it is on a mission to identify and support 50 solutions by 2030. Thus, the prize will fuel projects that have the power to change communities and help restore the planet.

“With over 200 investors now on board, Launchpad (Earthshot’s match-making platform) has mobilized networks of investors, donors, and corporations to accelerate breakthrough solutions chosen from the pool of Earthshot Prize nominees.”

More deals are in the pipeline. For instance, through Launchpad, Earthshot’s match-making platform, Australia-based Sea Forest has partnered with NOA’s HERD, an agricultural tech company in Uganda, to help East African farmers decarbonize livestock using SeaFeed.

NOA’s HERD will launch a pilot program in Uganda to measure emissions directly with green feed devices, starting on 30 farms across Uganda and Kenya.

According to Jones, the CEO, the awards “will offer another chance to show the world Africa’s story, told by Africans.”