Earthshot Prize Finalists: Protecting Oceans, Monitoring Biodiversity, Providing Refrigeration, & More

Protecting Oceans

The Earthshot Prize, established by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, aims to find and fund innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Among the finalists for the 2022 prize are projects that focus on protecting oceans, monitoring biodiversity, and providing refrigeration, among others.

Project: Ocean Cleanup

One of the finalists is the Ocean Cleanup project, which aims to rid the world’s oceans of plastic waste. The project uses a system of floating barriers to collect plastic debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive accumulation of plastic waste in the North Pacific Ocean. The goal is to remove 90% of the plastic waste in the patch by 2040.

Impact

The Ocean Cleanup project has already made significant progress in reducing plastic waste in the ocean. Since its inception, the project has removed over 100,000 kilograms of plastic waste from the ocean, and its technology has been shown to be effective in collecting microplastics and other forms of plastic debris.

Monitoring Biodiversity

Another finalist is the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) project to monitor biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest. The project uses a combination of drones, cameras, and machine learning algorithms to track the movement and behavior of wildlife in the region.

Project: WCS Amazon Biodiversity Monitoring

The project aims to monitor the movement and behavior of over 1,000 species of animals in the Amazon rainforest, including jaguars, pumas, and sloths. The data collected will help conservationists identify areas of high biodiversity and develop targeted conservation efforts.

Impact

The WCS Amazon Biodiversity Monitoring project has already shown significant results in tracking wildlife populations and identifying areas of high conservation value. The project has also helped to inform policy decisions and support conservation efforts in the region.

Providing Refrigeration

A third finalist is the project by company, Driptech, which aims to provide refrigeration to underserved communities around the world. The project uses a innovative cooling technology that uses evaporative cooling to reduce energy consumption and costs.

Project: Driptech Refrigeration

The project aims to provide refrigeration to communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where access to refrigeration is limited. The technology has the potential to improve food safety, reduce food waste, and increase access to vaccines and medicines.

Impact

The Driptech Refrigeration project has already shown significant results in reducing energy consumption and costs. The technology has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people around the world by providing access to refrigeration.

More Finalists

In addition to these projects, other finalists for the 2022 Earthshot Prize include:

* A project to develop a new type of sustainable cement that reduces carbon emissions
* A project to create a new type of solar panel that is more efficient and affordable
* A project to develop a new type of seaweed-based packaging material that replaces plastic

Conclusion

The Earthshot Prize finalists showcase innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. From protecting oceans to monitoring biodiversity, providing refrigeration, and more, these projects have the potential to make a significant impact on the environment and improve the lives of people around the world.

FAQs

Q: What is the Earthshot Prize?

A: The Earthshot Prize is an environmental prize established by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, to find and fund innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Q: What are the categories for the Earthshot Prize?

A: The categories for the Earthshot Prize include Protecting Oceans, Monitoring Biodiversity, Providing Refrigeration, and more.

Q: How do the finalists get selected?

A: The finalists are selected through a rigorous judging process that includes input from a panel of experts and a public vote.

Q: What is the prize?

A: The winner of the Earthshot Prize receives a grant of £1 million to support their project.