Five “gamechanging” environmental initiatives have won this year’s Earthshot Prize, a competition launched to scale up solutions to environmental problems.
A pioneering conservation project that saved a critically endangered antelope from extinction was among this year’s winners, each of which were awarded £1m.
The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative saved Kazakhstan’s saiga antelope (pictured), restored its steppe habitat and reintroduced Przewalski horses (main picture) to the ecosystem.
“The revival of the Central Asian steppe are not just a triumph for wildlife but for the local communities that depend on the ecosystems,” said Vera Voronova, the project’s executive director.
The other winners were: GAYO, an African project improving waste management; the High Ambition Coalition, an alliance working to protect 30% of Earth by 2030; Keep It Cool, an initiative preventing food waste in Africa; and Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, which converts waste heat into electricity.
“These visionary innovators from Africa and beyond are not just solving the environmental challenges facing their communities – they are lighting the path for a sustainable future for us all,” said Prince William, president of the Earthshot Prize.
Image: Albert Salemgareyev