During last year’s ceremony, William acknowledged his family’s absence, telling the audience: “My children would love to be here — so would Catherine.”

A Decisive Moment for the Planet

Jason Knauf, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, described the initiative as being launched at “a decisive moment” for the planet.

“The Earthshot Prize was founded because Prince William believes this decade can be a great human success story,” he said. “With urgency and optimism, we can make these years count. Today, as we stand at the halfway mark of our mission, our work feels more important than ever.”

To announce this year’s finalists, William released a reflective video filmed beneath the same oak tree where he first launched the prize five years ago. In it, he spoke about the urgency of action and the passage of time.

“Back then, a decade felt a long time. George was seven, Charlotte five, and Louis two. The thought of them in 2030 felt a lifetime away,” he said. “But today, 2030 feels very real. It’s a threshold by which future generations will judge us.”

Despite the challenges ahead, William struck a hopeful tone: “The people behind these projects are heroes of our time. If we back them, we can make the world cleaner, safer, and full of opportunity — not just for the future, but for the lives we want to lead now.”

This year’s ceremony will take place at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro and is expected to draw leading figures from sustainability, innovation, and science.