Everything you need to know about the Earthshot Prize 2024

Prince William launched the Earthshot Prize in 2020

It's big, it's bold and it's here to come up with important ideas to try to help our planet - we're talking about the Earthshot Prize 2024.

The prestigious ceremony will be held in an eco-dome in Cape Town, South Africa, for the first time and the Prince of Wales will reveal the winning ideas.

The awards will be broadcast to an African audience of millions and screened online.

The 2,000 guests are expected to wear sustainable clothes for the event. These can be made from recycled materials or a previously worn outfit, as they make their way down the "green carpet".

Actor Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in Harry Potter, on the "green carpet"

What is the Earthshot Prize?

Started by Prince William in 2020, the award aims to celebrate and support people and companies working to provide innovative solutions for climate and environmental issues.

There are five 'Earthshots' - or goals: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-free World; and Fix Our Climate.

It was inspired by former US president John F Kennedy's Moonshot project. This set scientists the challenge of placing an astronaut on the Moon and returning him safely - and in the process helped advance technology.

And now there's a way children can get involved too, as Blue Peter has started its own environment competition.

Prince William takes a closer look at the tyres created by previous Earthshot finalist Enso

Since it started the organisation says it has built up a network of over 500 organisations and partners who are finding and supporting solutions.

Notpla, is a company which produces seaweed based food packaging, whilst Enso is a start-up which makes a more efficient, low emission tyres for electric vehicles.

Previous Earthshot finalists and winners are in talks with companies like British Airways about how they can work together to use their ideas.

Finalist Build Up Nepal (BUN) provides a sustainable alternative to traditional bricks

How will Earthshot 2024 work?

On Monday, Prince William will begin a four-day visit to South Africa, called Earthshot Week, which will showcase young African environmentalists and include a meeting with the country's president, Cyril Ramaphosa.

The heir to the throne will also give what Kensington Palace has described as "a landmark speech" on nature, the environment and his support for wildlife rangers.

Hannah Jones, Earthshot Prize's chief executive officer, said Earthshot week was "dedicated to celebrating environmental innovation, speeding solutions to scale, and inspiring young people to put their time and talent to fixing the planet one solution at a time."

Who are the finalists for Earthshot 2024?

Why did the camel cross the road? To make way for innovation of course!

The finalists, from countries including France, Ghana, Indonesia and Nepal, are competing for a £1 million prize pot awarded to each winner of five categories to develop their ideas.

Among the finalists in the build a waste-free world category is Keep It Cool, a Kenyan based company using solar powered refrigeration to help cut harvest waste for farmers.

Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems had a lightbulb moment

The fix our climate category features American company Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems, who convert excess heat, produced during the making of steel or cement, into electricity.

NatureMetrics has taken a dive into the world of conservation

UK company NatureMetrics is a protect and restore nature finalist. It is using environmental DNA technology to identify and monitor species populations.

MYCL is helping to solve the palm oil problem

A finalist in the clean our air category is MYCL, which looks at the problem of palm oil that's created when leftover shells are burnt, sending chemicals and carbon into the air. MYCL is buying crop waste before it’s burnt and creating an alternative to leather.

"Kelp" is at hand thanks to these seaweed farms

Demand for seaweed is growing as an alternative to plastic. Revive our oceans finalist Coast 4C helps to generate sustainable seaweed products. They do this by helping communities get seaweed growing areas and by teaching farmers regenerative methods to protect the environment.