Context: This year, Vidyut Mohan, a Delhi-based entrepreneur, won the inaugural edition of The Earthshot Prize for his innovative technology that recycles agricultural waste to create fuel.
About the 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.

Background

• The Earthshot Prize’s name is a reference to the “Moonshot” ambition of then US President John F. Kennedy in 1960s who pledged to get a man on the Moon within a decade.

About the Prize

• The Earthshot Prize, dubbed as the “Eco Oscars” was established in 2020.
• The award was set up by Prince William and Royal Foundation, the charity founded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

It honours individuals/organisations with one million euros for their contributions towards the following five UN Sustainable Development Goals –

• Restoration and protection of nature,
• Air cleanliness,
• Ocean revival,
• Waste-free living and
• Climate action.

Every year, five winners will be selected from 15 finalists (3 from each category) by the Earthshot Prize Council.

• The council comprises global spokespersons who are striving to bring impactful action in various capabilities.
• The historian David Attenborough will honour five finalists between 2021 and 2030.

Eligibility

• 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.