Britain’s Prince William has called for renewed optimism and unity in tackling global environmental challenges during the EarthShot Prize 2025 ceremony held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The star-studded event marked the fifth edition of the award, which celebrates groundbreaking solutions to combat climate change.

In his speech, Prince William acknowledged the growing sense of environmental fatigue but stressed the importance of perseverance.

“I understand that some might feel discouraged in these uncertain times,” he said. “There is still so much to be done. But this is no time for complacency — the optimism I felt in 2020 remains ardent today.”

Launched in 2020 and inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s “moonshot” initiative, the EarthShot Prize aims to encourage transformative environmental innovation over a decade. Now reaching its midpoint, the prize continues to spotlight solutions that can restore and protect the planet.

Each of the five winners receives £1 million ($1.3 million) to expand their projects addressing issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

The Rio ceremony brought together global icons including Kylie Minogue, Shawn Mendes, Gilberto Gil, Seu Jorge, Anitta, and Sebastian Vettel, creating a dynamic blend of culture and climate advocacy.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were also in attendance, underscoring the UK’s commitment to environmental leadership.

Prince William’s trip to Latin America — his first official visit to the region — comes ahead of COP30, the United Nations Climate Summit hosted by Brazil. During his visit, he also launched new initiatives supporting Indigenous communities and environmental defenders, and toured several of Rio’s iconic landmarks.

With his message of optimism, innovation, and shared responsibility, Prince William reinforced EarthShot’s vision: that hope, science, and global cooperation can still turn the tide on climate change.