The Earthshot Prize Comes to Boston 2nd December 2022
- The 2022 Earthshot Prize ceremony will take place 02 December 2022 at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway
- Due to heightened security considerations and space restrictions, attendance to the Earthshot ceremony is by invitation only.
- Winners and Finalists
In the run-up to the Ceremony, we will be working hand-in-hand with our Host Committee Members to showcase the incredible scientific and technological developments taking place in Boston. There will also be a packed programme of activities across the capital, generating memorable moments that all Bostonians will be proud of for years to come. Stay across everything that’s happening on social media using the hashtag #EarthshotBoston2022.
The Earthshot Prize
“The Earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet, or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve. People can achieve great things. The next ten years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth.” Prince William
On September 12, 1962, in a landmark speech at Rice University, President Kennedy issued a soaring challenge to the country: to land a man on the Moon within a decade and bring them safely back to Earth. In July 1969, the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed the first two human beings on the Moon. Sixty years later, that spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship and service continues in the City of Boston and serves as the inspiration for the selection of Boston as host city.
“There is no more important Moonshot today than repairing the planet and no better place to harness the Moonshot spirit than the City of Boston,” said Ambassador Caroline Kennedy. “It is a great tribute to President Kennedy that The Earthshot Prize will partner with the JFK Library Foundation to host the 2022 ceremony in Boston and inspire a new generation with the possibility of a sustainable future.”
“In Boston, we’re not just aiming to improve Boston’s ability to tackle climate change—we’re setting an example for how imaginative, community-driven climate leadership can reshape what’s possible. We are honored and excited that Boston has been selected to host the 2022 Earthshot Awards,” said Mayor Wu. “This is an opportunity to shine a global spotlight on our efforts to combat climate change and demonstrate that, together, we can meet the urgency this moment demands with innovative solutions that protect our planet and future generations.”
Mayor Wu’s administration is committed to making Boston a Green New Deal city by leading the charge to mitigate the threats of climate change while transitioning to a thriving green economy. Within Mayor Wu’s first few months in office, she has signed her first ordinance to divest City-funds from the fossil fuel, tobacco, and private prison industries, and has taken transformative steps to enhance connectivity in Boston while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Every year, The Earthshot Prize will find and reward solutions to five “Earthshot” goals – Protect and restore nature; Clean our air; Revive our oceans; Build a waste-free world; and Fix our climate. These winning solutions will have the greatest impact on the biggest environmental challenges facing our planet and each winner will receive £1 million to scale their solutions. Each year, cities from across the world, dedicated to creating a sustainable future for and with their communities, will be transformed into Earthshot venues, showcasing the worldwide impact of the Prize and profiling the incredible people working to repair our planet both locally and globally.
The second annual awards ceremony will celebrate this year’s cohort of fifteen incredible global Finalists before awarding the five Winners of The Earthshot Prize. Last year’s first-ever awards ceremony took place in London, featured show-stopping musical performances, and introduced the world to the individuals and teams whose solutions have the power to help repair the planet and improve life for people everywhere.
About Mayor Michelle Wu:
Michelle Wu is the Mayor of Boston. She is a daughter of immigrants, Boston Public Schools mom to two boys, MBTA commuter, and fierce believer that we can solve our deepest challenges through building community. As Mayor, Michelle is working in coalition to deliver bold, systemic change and make Boston a city for everyone. Mayor Wu has been a voice for accessibility, transparency, and community engagement in city leadership. First elected to the Boston City Council in November 2013, Wu is the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Council. In January 2016, her colleagues unanimously elected her the first woman of color to serve as Council President.
About The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation:
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is the non-profit partner and creative collaborator of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, which is administered by the United States National Archives and Records Administration. Over the past forty years, this partnership has produced world class exhibits, the largest, most advanced digital archive created by a presidential library, award-winning educational and digital resources, and public programs that make the Library the largest convener of public dialogues in the Boston area. Grounded in the archival evidence, these activities promote a greater appreciation of America’s political and cultural heritage, help people understand the major challenges facing democracy today, and inspire new generations to engage with the issues at the heart of contemporary life that relate to the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.
