The prestigious Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William, will be hosted in India for the very first time this year, with Mumbai selected as the venue for the 2026 ceremony. This significant announcement was made during the inaugural Mumbai Climate Week, highlighting India's growing role in global environmental leadership.
Earthshot Prize: A Global Environmental Initiative
Established by the Prince of Wales in 2020, the Earthshot Prize annually awards £1 million each to five winners who design innovative solutions to tackle the climate and nature crisis. The prize focuses on key themes such as protecting and restoring nature, cleaning the air, reviving oceans, building a waste-free world, and fixing the climate. Organisers emphasise that it aims to support practical innovations that can be scaled rapidly to address urgent environmental challenges.
Prince William's Optimistic Vision
In announcing Mumbai as the host city, Prince William expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "We must continue to look to the future with urgency and optimism, which is why I am delighted that Mumbai will host the Earthshot Prize 2026." He highlighted India's critical position in climate action, noting that "India is one of the world’s most important forces for climate and nature." The Prince added that India's large youth population creates a momentum for change, inspiring progress globally and supporting the goal to repair and restore the planet by 2030.
India's Climate Leadership Spotlight
Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, welcomed the decision, stating that hosting the ceremony will place a global spotlight on India's climate efforts. "The Earthshot Prize is the world's most prestigious environmental award and I'm proud to announce that it will be hosted in Mumbai in November," he said. Fadnavis emphasised that sustainability and climate action are top priorities for Maharashtra, and the event will draw attention to India's commitment to turning climate goals into tangible actions.
India's Strong Track Record with Earthshot
India has produced more Earthshot finalists and winners than any other country, showcasing its innovative contributions to environmental solutions. Previous Indian winners include:
- S4S Technologies: Uses solar-powered dryers to reduce food waste among farmers.
- Boomitra: Incentivises soil restoration through a verified carbon-credit marketplace.
- Kheyti: Developed a "greenhouse-in-a-box" to support small farmers facing climate-affected harvests.
- Takachar: Created technology to reduce emissions from agricultural waste burning.
Impact and Growth of the Prize
Since its launch, the Earthshot Prize has identified over 5,600 environmental innovations from 156 countries and awarded a total of £25 million to winners. Organisers report that finalists have collectively secured more than $500 million in investment and philanthropy to scale their projects, demonstrating the prize's role in driving real-world impact.
Global Context and Future Ambitions
The 2026 ceremony in Mumbai will mark the sixth year of the Earthshot Prize's decade-long initiative to accelerate solutions before 2030. Previous host cities include London, Boston, Singapore, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro, reflecting its global reach. This move aligns with India's broader efforts to position itself as a leader in climate action, including hosting events like the AI Impact Summit and ambitions to host the UN Climate Summit in the near future, aiming to amplify the voice of the Global South in environmental discussions.
