The Human Element in Exponential Growth
The Categories
Protect and Restore Nature
Protect and Restore Nature
Protect and Restore Nature
By 2030, we choose to ensure that, for the first time in human history, the natural world is growing – not shrinking – on our planet.
Clean Our Air
Protect and Restore Nature
Protect and Restore Nature
By 2030 we choose to ensure that everyone in the world breathes clean, healthy air – at World Health Organisation standard or better.
Revive Our Oceans
Protect and Restore Nature
Build a Waste-Free World
By 2030, we choose to repair and preserve our oceans for future generations.
Build a Waste-Free World
Build a Waste-Free World
Build a Waste-Free World
By 2030, we choose to build a world where nothing goes to waste, where the leftovers of one process become the raw materials of the next – just like they do in nature.
Fix Our Climate
Build a Waste-Free World
Fix Our Climate
By 2030, we choose to fix the world’s climate by cutting out carbon: building a carbon-neutral economy that lets every culture, community and country thrive.
Key Dates
Nominations open
Screening and selection
Nomination deadline
We will be accepting applications before this date. Early applications are encouraged!
Nomination deadline
Screening and selection
Nomination deadline
While the official deadline is March 4th, we will stop accepting new applications a week earlier.
Screening and selection
Screening and selection
Screening and selection
All nominated candidates are screened by an external body.
Awards ceremony
Screening and selection
Screening and selection
The finals will take place in New York in end 2022. Stay tuned for updates!
Our Nominees
Our Winner: Enapter
Born on a climate-change affected South Pacific Island, Vaitea Cowan co-founded Enapter to change things for the better. Just three years on, its green hydrogen technology is already changing the way we power our world.
We have made huge advances in renewable energy, but we can still go further. With 30% of our energy already renewable, we need to focus on the 70% that remains: non-renewable energy that powers everything from industry to transport.
Enapter provides a clean alternative. Its AEM Electrolyser technology turns renewable electricity into emission-free hydrogen gas. Developed quicker and cheaper than once thought possible, the technology already fuels cars and planes, powers industry and heats homes.
This is just the start. In 2021, Enapter was successfully nominated by PDIE for the Fix Our Climate Earthshot. Funding from winning The Earthshot Prize has helped scale mass production, beginning in 2022, while growing the team faster and funding further research and development. By 2050, Enapter’s vision is to account for 10% of the world’s hydrogen generation.
Enapter shows us that, even when faced with the greatest of challenges, we can turn back the tide.
Fix Our Climate Winner 2021
Enapter's AEM Electrolyser uses renewable energy to make green hydrogen.
Our Finalists
WOTA
Pristine Seas
Pristine Seas
Nearly 40 percent of the world’s population is on track to experience water stress by 2050. Water stress occurs when the water resources in a region or country are insufficient for its needs. Climate change and population growth are already driving shortages across the world.
WOTA, a Japanese start-up, wants to improve water security by helping people reuse wastewater. Founded in 2014, the company’s first product, WOTA BOX, is the only solution of its kind, turning more than 98 percent of water waste into clean fresh water.
A fraction of the size of a typical water treatment plant, and over 50 times more efficient, WOTA BOX can be delivered at scale. Plus, installation requires no existing infrastructure.
The solution has already had an impact. In recent years in Japan, more than 20,000 people used them after floods, typhoons, and earthquakes cut off water supplies.
WOTA are looking to expand operations across the world, while lowering costs for developing countries. WOTA hopes to make its technology as commonplace as power generators. If it succeeds, it could save the world from a water stressed future.
Pristine Seas
Pristine Seas
Pristine Seas
The ocean covers 70% of the Earth. It provides food for billions and over half the oxygen we breathe. Devastating human impact, however, is pushing the ocean towards a tipping point beyond which we may never recover. Pristine Seas, a global ocean conservation program, is leading the charge to avert catastrophe.
The project was founded by Dr. Enric Sala, National Geographic’s Explorer in Residence. A former university professor, Sala grew up by the Mediterranean Sea, where he saw the destruction wrought on the marine world first-hand.
In 2008, Sala founded Pristine Seas, bringing together an expert team of scientists, filmmakers and policy experts, with the aim to protect 30% of our oceans by 2030. It has produced over 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 30 documentary films to inspire others to action.
So far, Pristine Seas has helped establish 24 marine reserves worldwide, across an area over twice the size of India. Pristine Seas aims to lead a global movement to protect 30% of our ocean by 2030. They need to scale their conservation mission, boost visibility of ocean issues, help educate a new generation of leaders, and transform economies. If Pristine Seas succeeds, our oceans, and the life they sustain, can be saved.
Meet our Nominees
AC Biode (Japan)
Climeworks (Switzerland)
Cauvery Calling (India)
They have developed the first standalone AC battery system that is material agnostic and can use existing battery supply chains to upgrade any battery at low cost.
Cauvery Calling (India)
Climeworks (Switzerland)
Cauvery Calling (India)
Working since 2004, their aim is to plant 2.42 billion trees in the Cauvery river basin, Tamil Nadu, to revitalize the Cauvery river and transform the lives of 84 million people.
Climeworks (Switzerland)
Climeworks (Switzerland)
Climeworks (Switzerland)
Climeworks uses a direct air capture to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air. The removed CO₂ is stored underground, permanently removing of excess and legacy CO₂ emissions.
EcoLegacy (Italy)
Climeworks (Switzerland)
Climeworks (Switzerland)
The Thermal Shell System (TSS) is a patented technology conceived for the heating and cooling of buildings with up to zero emissions and zero energy costs.
Global Choices (USA)
Herculean Climate Solutions (Malaysia)
Global Choices (USA)
Call for an 10 year moratorium to protect the Central Arctic Ocean Ice Shield and ecosystems from destructive exploitation, so science and CO2 emissions reduction have time to catch up.
Gunter Pauli (Japan)
Herculean Climate Solutions (Malaysia)
Global Choices (USA)
Founder of Zeri, which has developed a method of removing microplastics from the ocean, taking inspiration from CO2 removal within human lungs.
Herculean Climate Solutions (Malaysia)
Herculean Climate Solutions (Malaysia)
Herculean Climate Solutions (Malaysia)
The Thermal Shell System (TSS) is a patented technology conceived for the heating and cooling of buildings with up to zero emissions and zero energy costs.
Meli Bees (Brazil)
Herculean Climate Solutions (Malaysia)
Herculean Climate Solutions (Malaysia)
The Thermal Shell System (TSS) is a patented technology conceived for the heating and cooling of buildings with up to zero emissions and zero energy costs.
Plastic Bank (Canada)
Plastic Bank (Canada)
Plastic Bank (Canada)
The Thermal Shell System (TSS) is a patented technology conceived for the heating and cooling of buildings with up to zero emissions and zero energy costs.
Pretaterra (Brazil)
Plastic Bank (Canada)
Plastic Bank (Canada)
The Thermal Shell System (TSS) is a patented technology conceived for the heating and cooling of buildings with up to zero emissions and zero energy costs.
R-Stepps (France)
Plastic Bank (Canada)
R-Stepps (France)
The Thermal Shell System (TSS) is a patented technology conceived for the heating and cooling of buildings with up to zero emissions and zero energy costs.
EcoLegacy (Italy)
Plastic Bank (Canada)
R-Stepps (France)
The Thermal Shell System (TSS) is a patented technology conceived for the heating and cooling of buildings with up to zero emissions and zero energy costs.
AC Biode (Japan)
Cauvery Calling (India)
Cauvery Calling (India)
They have developed the first standalone AC battery system that is material agnostic and can use existing battery supply chains to upgrade any battery at low cost.
Cauvery Calling (India)
Cauvery Calling (India)
Cauvery Calling (India)
Worknig since 2004, their aim is to plant 2.42 billion trees in the Cauvery river basin, Tamil Nadu, to revitalize the Cauvery river and transform the lives of 84 million people.
Climeworks(Switzerland)
Cauvery Calling (India)
Climeworks(Switzerland)
Climeworks uses a direct air capture to capture carbon dioxide directly from the air. The removed CO₂ is stored underground, permanently removing of excess and legacy CO₂ emissions.