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The Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit
in partnership with
Bloomberg Philanthropies

September 24, 2024

The Plaza Hotel, New York, NY
9:30 to 11:00 am ET

The Earthshot Prize | Bloomberg Philanthropies logos

Marking Climate Week in New York, and with the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly as its backdrop, Bloomberg Philanthropies and The Earthshot Prize hosted the third annual Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, aimed to scale cutting-edge climate solutions.

Founded by HRH Prince William, The Earthshot Prize is an environmental challenge that catalyzes urgent optimism & action by discovering, accelerating, awarding, spotlighting & scaling solutions to repair & regenerate the planet. The summit convened business leaders, philanthropists, investors and government leaders alongside Earthshot Prize Finalists and Winners to strengthen the power of the global Earthshot community.

This summit challenged each of us to do our part accelerating progress to repair our planet this decade.

Speakers

José Andrés bio photo

José Andrés

Founder, World Central Kitchen; Earthshot Prize Council Member
Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern bio photo

Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern

Trustee, The Earthshot Prize
Michael R. Bloomberg bio photo

Michael R. Bloomberg

Global Advisor to the Winners of The Earthshot Prize; Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies & Bloomberg L.P.
Orianna Bretschger bio photo

Orianna Bretschger

CEO & Founder, Aquacycl; 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist
Mark Carney bio photo

Mark Carney

UN Special Envoy for Climate Action & Finance; Co-Chair, GFANZ
Thomas Crowther bio photo

Thomas Crowther

Founder, Restor; 2021 Earthshot Prize Finalist
Benedict Cumberbatch bio photo

Benedict Cumberbatch

Actor
Matt Damon bio photo

Matt Damon

Co-Founder, Water.org & WaterEquity
Joel Embiid bio photo

Joel Embiid

Cameroonian-American Basketball Player
Dame Christiana Figueres bio photo

Dame Christiana Figueres

Chair, The Earthshot Prize
Maya Gabeira bio photo

Maya Gabeira

Brazilian Big Wave Surfer; Ambassador, Oceana
Patricia E. Harris bio photo

Patricia E. Harris

CEO, Bloomberg Philanthropies
Sophie Hunter bio photo

Sophie Hunter

Theatre Director & Playwright
Hannah Jones bio photo

Hannah Jones

CEO, The Earthshot Prize
Francine Lacqua bio photo

Francine Lacqua

Editor-At-Large & Anchor, Bloomberg Television
Wanjira Mathai bio photo

Wanjira Mathai

Managing Director, Africa and Global Partnerships, World Resources Institute; Earthshot Prize Council Member
Bonang  Matheba bio photo

Bonang Matheba

South African Broadcaster & Businesswoman
Aadith Moorthy bio photo

Aadith Moorthy

CEO & Founder, Boomitra; 2023 Earthshot Prize Winner
Rocky Sanchez bio photo

Rocky Sanchez

Co-Founder, Coastal 500; 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist
Masai Ujiri bio photo

Masai Ujiri

Vice-Chairman and President, Toronto Raptors; Co-Founder, Giants of Africa; Founder, Zaria Group
Gary White bio photo

Gary White

CEO & Co-Founder, Water.org & WaterEquity
Antha  Williams bio photo

Antha Williams

Environment Program Lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies
Jennifer Zabasajja bio photo

Jennifer Zabasajja

Chief Africa Correspondent & Anchor, Bloomberg Television

Agenda

All times are in EDT

7:30 AM

Investor Breakfast

Meet the finalists and join Launchpad, a community of mission-aligned investors and philanthropists.

9:30 AM

Event Open

  • Michael R. Bloomberg, Global Advisor to the Winners of The Earthshot Prize; Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies & Bloomberg L.P.

9:35 AM

Scaling Solutions at Speed

Developing game-changing solutions is one thing; scaling them at the rapid pace demanded by the severity of the climate crisis is another. We’ll hear how climate leaders are building powerful networks of partners and advocates to rapidly advance innovation.

  • Orianna Bretschger, CEO & Founder, Aquacycl; 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist
  • Matt Damon, Co-Founder, Water.org & WaterEquity
  • Aadith Moorthy, CEO & Founder, Boomitra; 2023 Earthshot Prize Winner 
  • Gary White, CEO & Co-Founder, Water.org & WaterEquity
  • Moderator: Jennifer Zabasajja, Chief Africa Correspondent & Anchor, Bloomberg Television

9:50 AM

Investing in Climate

The power of Earthshot is the community it has built, which harnesses its collective resources to fund innovative climate solutions. We’ll discuss the future of financing international climate solutions and explore how leaders in the public and private sectors are overcoming challenges to accelerate the race to net zero.

  • Mark Carney, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action & Finance; Co-Chair, GFANZ
  • Moderator: Francine Lacqua, Editor-At-Large & Anchor, Bloomberg Television

10:00 AM

Revive Our Oceans

Protecting our oceans is an underutilized opportunity to address the climate and nature crisis. We’ll examine the best solutions and innovations that repair and preserve marine life and ecosystems for future generations.

Introduction:

  • Patricia E. Harris, CEO, Bloomberg Philanthropies

Panel:

  • Maya Gabeira, Big Wave Surfer & Ambassador, Oceana
  • Rocky Sanchez Tirona, Co-Founder, Coastal 500; 2023 Earthshot Prize Finalist
  • Moderator: Antha Williams, Environment Program Lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies

10:20 AM

Protect and Restore Nature

In the countdown to the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, the world is focused on protecting 30% of nature by 2030. The Earthshot Prize 2021 Finalist, Restor, shares how they are creating a positive economic impact through restoration solutions in Costa Rica.

  • Thomas Crowther, Founder, Restor; 2021 Earthshot Prize Finalist  

10:30 AM

Ask the Experts

Inspirational leaders who are breaking the mold on global action share lessons learned in shaking up the status quo to accelerate progress.

Introduction:

  • Benedict Cumberbatch, Actor
  • Sophie Hunter, Theatre Director & Playwright

Panel:

  • José Andrés, Founder, World Central Kitchen 
  • Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern, Trustee, The Earthshot Prize 
  • Wanjira Mathai, Managing Director, Africa and Global Partnerships , World Resources Institute
  • Moderator: Dame Christiana Figueres, Chair, The Earthshot Prize

10:50 AM

Spotlighting African Innovation

Cameroonian-American NBA star Joel Embiid and Nigerian-Canadian Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri discuss the opportunities and challenges Africa faces in scaling up transformation and how the continent’s vibrant people and culture of creativity positioned them for success.

  • Joel Embiid, Cameroonian-American Professional Basketball Player 
  • Masai Ujiri, Vice Chairman & President, Toronto Raptors; Co-Founder, Giants of Africa 
  • Moderator: Bonang Matheba, South African Broadcaster & Businesswoman

11:05 AM

2024 Finalist Announcement & Closing Remarks

  • Hannah Jones, CEO, The Earthshot Prize

The Earthshots

The Earthshot Prize is centered around five ‘Earthshots’ – simple but ambitious goals for our planet, which if achieved by 2030, will improve life for us all, for generations to come.

Designed to find and grow the solutions that will repair our planet this decade, each year, five solutions will be awarded £1million and the accolade of becoming one of only 50 winners of The Earthshot Prize.

Meet past Earthshot Prize Finalists and Winners

Build a waste-free world logo
Revive our oceans logo
Protect and restore nature logo
Clean our air logo
Fix our climate logo

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