Prince William told the BBC the world must accelerate efforts to tackle major climate challenges and urged leaders and investors to scale proven solutions. The 15 finalists for the 2026 Earthshot Prize were selected from nearly 7,000 nominations across 169 countries and include Barcelona, Bhutan, Indigenous ranger teams and an Argentinian AI wildfire platform. Two Indian finalists will be showcased ahead of the Mumbai awards ceremony in November 2026, where five winners — each receiving £1m — will be announced.
Prince William: “We’re Not Moving Fast Enough” — Urges Rapid Scaling of Climate Solutions as Earthshot Finalists Are Revealed
[Reuters]
The Prince of Wales has warned that the world must move faster to tackle the planet’s most urgent climate challenges, calling for businesses, investors and leaders to scale proven solutions.
Earthshot Finalists Spotlight Real-World Solutions
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Prince William said there needs to be a stronger sense of urgency around repairing the environment.
This year's Earthshot Prize ceremony will be hosted in Mumbai, India, in November [Getty Images]
“We’re not moving fast enough. We need more businesses, investors and leaders to step up, back what works and help bring these solutions to scale,” William said.
His comments coincided with the announcement of the 15 finalists for the 2026 Earthshot Prize, the global environmental award he launched six years ago. Finalists were selected from nearly 7,000 nominations across 169 countries.
Notable Finalists
Among the nominees are:
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Isle of Bute on Thursday to learn about their efforts to protect the coastline [PA Media]
- Barcelona — recognised for transforming a heavily used Mediterranean coastline into a model for climate adaptation.
- Bhutan — honoured for embedding environmental protection into national identity and demonstrating how forests can safeguard regional water security.
- Community-Led Projects — including Indigenous ranger teams in Australia restoring nature and an Argentinian AI platform that detects and alerts communities to wildfires.
- India-Based Finalists — Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, a leading maker of electric three-wheelers, and the Mahila Housing Trust, which pioneers climate resilience solutions for low-income women.
What’s Next
The five winners — one from each Earthshot category (Protect and Restore Nature, Revive Our Oceans, Clean Our Air, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate) — will be announced at the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Mumbai in November 2026. Each winning project will receive a £1m grant to help scale its impact.
The Earthshot Prize Council that selects winners includes Prince William alongside Queen Rania al‑Abdullah of Jordan, actress Cate Blanchett and chef José Andrés.
Context Around The Royal Family
While the Earthshot announcement drew attention to climate action, the Prince and Princess of Wales also carried out public duties on the Isle of Bute this week amid family headlines stemming from allegations by Earl Spencer. The royals have continued with official engagements and charitable work rather than commenting publicly on the family controversy. Separately, Prince Harry is due to visit a school in the Midlands as part of his Invictus Foundation activities.
Additional reporting by Daniel Wittenberg.
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