In recent news, Vidyut Mohan, an entrepreneur from Delhi, emerged as the winner of the inaugural edition of The Earthshot Prize. His innovative technology, which repurposes agricultural waste into fuel, bagged him this esteemed award.
The Earthshot Prize: Background and Overview
This award was instituted by Prince William in association with the Royal Foundation, a charity founded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and globally acclaimed historian David Attenborough. In a previous instance, Sir David Attenborough had been awarded the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for 2019.
The idea for this significant environmental prize was conceived in 2020, and 2021 marked the first year of its existence, where awards were presented to finalists who made notable contributions towards environmental sustainability. The Earthshot Prize plans to confer honours to five finalists each year, running from 2021 to 2030, for their innovative solutions against climate change.
Each of the winners will receive a highly motivating prize of one million Euros and are chosen by the distinguished members of the Earthshot Prize Council. Each year’s selection focuses on one of the Five United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which include the restoration and protection of nature, air cleanliness, ocean revival, waste-free living and climate action.
Eligibility Criteria for The Earthshot Prize
The Earthshot Prize demonstrates inclusivity by opening its doors to a diverse range of contenders. Individuals, teams, collaborations, scientists, activists, economists, community projects, leaders, governments, banks, businesses, cities, and countries – all have an opportunity to participate. The necessary condition is their solution should be workable and should significantly contribute to achieving the Earthshots.
Objectives of The Earthshot Prize
The primary objective of this award is to inspire and support the development of solutions for Earth’s environmental challenges. It aims to incentivize positive change and assist in restoring the planet over the next decade. By highlighting the power of human ingenuity to initiate change, it hopes to transform prevailing pessimism about environmental issues into optimism and ignite collective action.
The Earthshot Prize 2021 Indian Winner: Vidyut Mohan and His Innovation
For the “Clean our Air” category, the winner was an Indian initiative, Takachar. This innovation is a portable machine devised to convert agricultural waste into fertilizer, thus eliminating the necessity for farmers to burn their fields and cause air pollution.
This technology efficiently converts crop residues into sellable bio-products like fuel and fertilizers, considerably reducing smoke emissions by 98%. The solution addresses a critical issue since the burning of agricultural waste leads to severe air pollution, reducing life expectancy in some areas by as much as a decade.