15 climate champions in running for prestigious Earthshot Awards in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN - Fifteen climate champions are vying for five £1 million prizes in the 4th Annual Earthshot Awards being held in Cape Town.

Britain's Prince William founded the gathering in 2020 and on Tuesday met with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the president's official Cape Town residence, Genadendal in Rondebosch.

In a first for Africa, Cape Town is hosting the global environmental summit and ceremony on Wednesday, thanks to its disaster response to water scarcity and wildfires.

Hundreds of entries have been whittled down to 15 eco-initiatives.

The finalists, from various countries, including France, Kenya, Ghana and Indonesia, are competing for grant funding to develop their sustainable ideas.

Among them is Uyunkar Domingo, who's championing the restoration of the Amazon Rain Forest.

"Amazon is important to everyone because it's the lungs of the world."

Ninna Granucci is leading a zero-waste campaign that transforms commercial food waste into nutritious alternative ingredients.

"The fermentation we develop is a zero-waste process. Everything that starts in fermentation ends up in a final product, the only thing we remove is clean water."

Kenyan engineers have also unveiled solar-powered products to benefit rural households.

"Each household gets a solar home system which becomes their source of energy. At a basic level, they can have light at night, as they get bigger units they can plug in their appliances."

This year, Earthshot is also debuting programmes to mentor young eco-advocates and innovators from Africa and Asia.