The Earthshot Prize 2021:
Vidyut Mohan, a Delhi-based entrepreneur, won the inaugural edition of The Earthshot Prize.
- He won it for his innovative technology that recycles agricultural waste to create fuel.
- It is an award set up by Prince William and the Royal Foundation, the charity founded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and historian David Attenborough.
- Earlier, Sir David Attenborough has also been conferred with the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for 2019.
- Established in 2020, 2021 was the first year when awards were handed out to finalists for their contributions
- The award will honour five finalists between 2021 and 2030 for developing solutions to fight the climate crisis.
- They will receive a prize of one million Euros. The winners will be chosen by the Earthshot Prize Council.]
- Each year five winners will be selected, one for each of the Five United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) :
- Restoration and protection of nature
- Air cleanliness
- Ocean revival
- Waste-free living
- Climate action.
- Prizes could be awarded to a wide range of individuals, teams or collaborations – scientists, activists, economists, community projects, leaders, governments, banks, businesses, cities, and countries – anyone whose workable solutions make a substantial contribution to achieving the Earthshots.
- Objectives:
- To encourage and support the development of solutions for Earth’s environmental problems.
- To incentivise change and help repair the planet over the next ten years.
- To turn the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism, by highlighting the ability of human ingenuity to bring about change, and inspiring collective action.
The Earthshot Prize 2021 Indian Winner:
- “Clean our Air” Takachar, India: A portable machine created to turn agricultural waste into fertiliser so that farmers do not burn their fields and cause air pollution.
- This technology will help convert crop residues into sellable bio-products like fuel and fertilizers.
- The technology reduces smoke emissions by 98%.
- The burning of agricultural waste causes air pollution that in some areas has reduced life expectancy by a decade.
