LONDON--Britain's Prince William launched a multi-million pound prize on Tuesday to encourage the world's greatest problem-solvers to find answers to Earth's biggest environmental problems, saying the planet was now at a tipping point.
The Earthshot Prize, described in its publicity as the "most prestigious environmental prize in history", will be awarded to five winners a year over the next decade with the aim of producing at least 50 solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.
"The earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve," William, 37, said in a statement.
"Remember the awe-inspiring civilisations that we have built, the life-saving technology we have created, the fact that we have put a man on the moon," he added. "People can achieve great things. The next 10 years present us with one of our greatest tests - a decade of action to repair the Earth."
The British royal family have for many years been vocal campaigners on a host of environmental issues, with William's father Prince Charles speaking out for decades about the impact of climate change and the importance of conservation. The Earthshot initiative, which comes after more than a year of consultations with over 60 organisations and experts, aims to generate new technologies, policies and solutions for issues of climate and energy, nature and biodiversity, oceans, air pollution and fresh water.
Kensington Palace said the prize drew its inspiration from the concept of Moonshots, which it said since the 1969 moon landings was synonymous with ambitious and ground-breaking goals.
