Cape Town – Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has expressed pride and excitement as the city prepares to host the prestigious Earthshot Prize Awards on November 6, 2024.
This will be the first time the global environmental prize-giving ceremony is held in South Africa, marking a significant moment for both Cape Town and the African continent.
Hill-Lewis emphasised the city’s commitment to environmental protection and innovation, aligning Cape Town with the core mission of the Earthshot Prize, which seeks to spotlight and scale the world’s most innovative climate solutions.
“We look forward to welcoming the Prince of Wales to Cape Town for this prestigious global prize-giving ceremony. The Earthshot Prize is all about innovation on the biggest environmental and climate issues of our time. We are proud to be associated with such an event as a leading city for environmental protection and innovation on the African continent,” said Hill-Lewis.
Cape Town’s selection as the host city underscores its growing role in environmental leadership within Africa.
Hill-Lewis has championed various green initiatives in the city, and hosting this event further solidifies Cape Town’s standing as a beacon of climate innovation.
Congratulations to the extraordinary 2024 Finalists of the @EarthshotPrize. 💙
They are in the running for a £1M prize to scale their innovative solutions. As 2022 Finalists, we know its global support framework reaches far and wide.
Find out more: https://t.co/vk6A3u77st pic.twitter.com/RBD7PR6XfY
— The Great Bubble Barrier® (@Bubble_Barrier) October 3, 2024
The Earthshot Prize will bring together finalists from across six continents, with three African finalists from Kenya and Ghana. Five winners will receive £1 million (R23.8 million) each to support their climate projects, aimed at addressing critical global challenges.
Nearly 400 African-based nominees for this year’s prize highlight the creativity and innovation driving environmental solutions across the continent.
By hosting this event, Hill-Lewis believes Cape Town will not only boost its environmental profile but also inspire local communities and industries to adopt more sustainable practices.
“We are leading by example, showing that Cape Town and Africa are at the forefront of global environmental innovation,” he said.
Fifteen extraordinary solutions.
Five Earthshot challenges.
One shared mission: to repair and restore our planet.Introducing The Earthshot Prize Finalists for 2024: https://t.co/BzUlEE343W pic.twitter.com/opbFdJd6dV
— The Earthshot Prize (@EarthshotPrize) September 24, 2024
The Earthshot Prize, launched by the Prince of Wales, has already achieved significant impact. Since 2021, it has supported projects that have protected over 7,000 hectares of land and restored nearly 2.1 million hectares of ocean. The upcoming Cape Town ceremony is expected to contribute further to these efforts, with Hill-Lewis and his administration playing a pivotal role in bringing the global spotlight to the city.
Cape Town’s ABALOBI, a local finalist from 2023, has already made strides in sustainability by partnering with fishers to promote better practices in small-scale fishing communities.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
