In 1961, President John F. Kennedy made a speech. He said he wanted a man on the Moon by 1970. People call this Kennedy’s “Moonshot” plan. In 1969, two astronauts walked on the Moon. Now, world leaders have a goal that’s closer to home. They created the Earthshot Prize. It’s for our planet.
Five groups won the Earthshot Prize for 2023. Each made a solution for a problem on our planet. The winners were announced on November 7 in Singapore. Prince William was there. (He created the Earthshot Prize.) There were awards for nature, air, ocean, waste, and .
Nature: Acción Andina
The Andes Mountains rise along the coast of South America. The area has many animals, such as the Andean bear. Acción Andina helps to protect their
. The group has planted 6 million trees. That supports the forests — and its animals. Acción Andina works with
people.
Air: GRST
More people are driving electric cars. However, their batteries can create problems. Making batteries causes air pollution, and old batteries produce waste. GRST is building a cleaner battery. The company from China came up with a longer-lasting battery. GRST also made it easier to recycle batteries. That means cleaner air for all.
Ocean: WildAid Marine Program
A healthy planet needs healthy oceans. So, there are laws to protect our seas. However, many people still fish illegally. WildAid Marine Program helps governments stop them. It’s already working in a few nations. And it plans to reach more. Meaghan Brosnan leads WildAid. She said it’s “sparking a worldwide movement for ocean protection.”
Waste: S4S Technologies
Every year, more than 1 billion tons of food gets wasted. Rotting waste creates carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air. That gas traps heat, causing climate change. S4S Technologies aims to solve this. The group helps farmers use their crops before they waste. For example, it makes dryers that make foods last longer.
Climate: Boomitra
Boomitra means “friend of the earth” in the Sanskrit language. The company tries to be a friend by protecting the planet’s soil. Boomitra does that by training farmers to manage their land. One result is more food. Another is more CO2 in the ground (instead of the air). That limits climate change. Boomitra works with 150,000 farmers. It wants to help more.
The Earthshot winners get $1.2 million. They can use that money to grow — and do more good work.
Updated November 7, 2023, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Russell Kahn (Russ)
