A Kenyan company focused on reducing food waste through innovative refrigerated solutions has garnered the attention of Prince William, securing a position among 15 global finalists for the esteemed Earthshot Prize.
This initiative, championed by the Prince of Wales, recognizes groundbreaking solutions that confront the urgent environmental challenges we face.
With its creative strategy, the Kenyan firm, Keep IT Cool, stands to potentially receive a significant award of Ksh 166.4 million, which will be distributed to five winners in November.
The ceremony is scheduled to occur in Cape Town, South Africa, where Keep IT Cool will vie for accolades in categories such as air purification and the establishment of a carbon-neutral economy.
This acknowledgment was announced during an event led by Prince William at Climate Week NYC, coinciding with the UN General Assembly in New York.
This year marks the fourth iteration of the Earthshot Prize, underscoring the increasing imperative to address the intensifying climate crisis.
This year’s Earthshot finalists were chosen in the context of an extraordinary surge in climate-related disasters.
Communities around the globe have been devastated by unprecedented heatwaves and wildfires, with 2024 projected to become the hottest year on record, exceeding even the temperatures of 2023.
Among the distinguished finalists this year are NatureMetrics, a biodiversity startup based in the UK, and Equatic, which captures carbon from the atmosphere and produces clean hydrogen utilizing seawater.
These participants, along with Keep IT Cool, are linked by their creative approaches to addressing the climate emergency, providing genuine optimism in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
Established in 2020 by Prince William, the Earthshot Prize has swiftly evolved into a prominent global platform for environmental innovators.
With the backing of significant organizations such as Bloomberg Philanthropies, Breakthrough Energy Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, and the Jack Ma Foundation, the prize highlights pioneering initiatives that have the potential to reverse environmental degradation.
