Prince William will present a new documentary, The Earthshot Report, premiering tonight on BBC One at 5pm
The documentary, which showcases environmental solutions that have been highlighted and supported by the royal Earthshot Prize, will later air on PBS at 8 p.m. ET on December 18.
Emmy Award-winning actress and ‘good friend of the Earthshot Award’ Hannah Waddingham will present the documentary, which will “explore the inspiring stories of environmental innovators working to deliver solutions that have the power to protect and restore our planet for future generations.”
In his introduction filmed in a forest, William, 42, reminds viewers that the Earthshot Prize’was launched in 2021 to highlight and support people around the world who are coming up with breakthrough innovations to help prepare our planet.
The Prince of Wales, dressed in a casual blue jacket, adds: “They are just a sample of a new wave of inventors, doers and thinkers who are allowing us to feel hope and optimism, despite negative forecasts.”
‘Now, in 2024, individuals, communities and nations are innovating like never before.
“More and more people are joining the journey to protect the future of our planet.”
The Earthshot Report, he continues, brings together “past finalists” to see “how their ideas are being expanded.”
Prince William (pictured) presents The Earthshot Report, a new documentary showcasing the environmental solutions created by Earthshot Prize finalists and winners.
Additionally, it will explore “some of the innovative solutions, exciting new trends and global advancements of 2024.”
Each of the Earthshot Prize innovators addresses one of five environmental goals: fix our climate, protect and restore nature, build a waste-free world, revive our oceans, and clean our air.
Among the social entrepreneurs who will feature in the documentary is Charlot Magayi, from Mukuru in Nairobi, Kenya, who is the founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves.
Charlot initially focused on making a safer stove that would limit the risks of burns in children.
But when she started researching, she discovered that household air pollution and the high cost of fuel were two of the biggest problems facing her community.
Charlot went back to the drawing board and modified his original plan, designing a stove that would address all three problems.
Made from recycled metal and an insulated ceramic center, the stove helps food cook at a faster rate.
In addition, it is also more efficient when it comes to burning fuel, using around 50 percent less fuel than a normal stove.
William, 42, is dressed casually in a practical blue jacket for the introductory sequence of the documentary, which is filmed in a forest.
Emmy Award-winning actress Hannah Waddingham (pictured) and ‘good friend of the Earthshot Award’ hosts The Earthshot Report
In turn, “it can help reduce air pollution by up to 90 percent,” as Hannah Waddingham’s voiceover explains.
Priced at just $10, they are also cheaper and, according to Charlot, have saved households more than $50 million in fuel consumption costs.
Mukura Clean Stoves partners with women business owners in the community.
“We work with the most vibrant women, the women in the community who are very outspoken,” Charlot adds.
These are the women who not only understand that communities need to be educated but are also “excited to provide solutions.”
The women who sell the stoves also earn a ten percent commission.
Charlot concludes, “For every community we enter, we need to make sure we leave it better than we found it, and the best way to do that is to work with the women in that community.”
Charlot Magayi (pictured), from Mukuru in Nairobi, Kenya, is the founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves.
The Charlot stove not only reduces the risk of burns in children, but also combats air pollution in homes and reduces fuel costs.
The Earthshot Report has a broad geographic scope and also features social entrepreneurs developing solutions in the United States, Ecuador, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
“At a time when there is so much pessimism about the environment, the Earthshot Report is the dose of urgent optimism we need,” said Hannah Jones, executive director of the Earthshot Prize.
He added: ‘We are proud to be able to amplify the inspiring stories of Earthshot innovators and showcase the growing global climate creativity movement they are leading.
“We are honored to collaborate with the BBC and PBS to bring these compelling stories of Earthshot innovators and entrepreneurs to millions of people around the world.”
William founded the prize to recognize and scale up ideas to help ‘repair’ the planet, with the five winning finalists each receiving £1 million to further develop their ideas.
This afternoon’s Earthshot Report comes after the Prince said he hopes his children will be “proud” of their Earthshot Award ahead of the glitzy environmental awards ceremony in Cape Town last month.
The royals said they hoped Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and his wife, the Princess of Wales, would be watching at home.
William spoke to the BBC and Sky News as he prepared to present his fourth annual Earthshot Awards, designed to highlight and amplify the planet’s best solutions to the current environmental crisis.
The William Earthshot Prize enables innovators to work on solutions for one of five environmental goals: fix our climate, protect and restore nature, build a waste-free world, revive our oceans and clean our air.
He also said Kate was “doing very well, paying tribute to how “amazing” she had been during her difficult year of cancer treatment.”
‘She is very well, thank you. And…hopefully, she’ll be watching tonight. So encourage me. She has been amazing this whole year. “I know she will be very interested in making this night a success,” he said.
William said he and his family, like many, have conversations about trying to “do what they can” at home.
The prince said: ‘Yes, well, you know, every family tries to do what they can to help the environment.
“We go over all the basics of recycling and make sure we minimize water use and turn off the lights when we leave the house and things like that.”
He added: ‘I think all families have these conversations. Just try to do what you can. ‘
‘The Earthshot Prize has to be a little more global than that. “We are trying to achieve large-scale ambitions and business to address some of the solutions.”