Actress and humanitarian Nomzamo Mbatha has been named the new ambassador for The Earthshot Prize, a prestigious environmental initiative launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation. This announcement comes after a year of collaboration with the organisation, and in a year when the Earthshot Prize is set to make its debut on the African continent.
The Earthshot Prize aims to discover and support innovative solutions that address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Each year, the organisation awards five winners with £1 million to help scale their groundbreaking work. The initiative is a global effort to find climate creativity and solutions that can help repair and protect our planet.
In a recent Instagram Live interview, Earthshot Prize CEO Hannah Jones shared the exciting news with Nomzamo Mbatha, revealing that Africa has already produced over 400 nominations, with Kenya leading the pack with more than 100 submissions. South Africa and Nigeria are also strong contenders, each with around 35 nominations so far. Jones noted that nearly every country on the continent has participated, highlighting Africa’s commitment to environmental innovation.
Nomzamo Mbatha’s new role comes as Earthshot Prize Week 2024 is set to take place in Cape Town, culminating in the prestigious awards ceremony in November. Nomzamo previously attended the 2023 edition in Singapore, where she joined the Prince and Princess of Wales, actress Lana Condor, and fellow new ambassador Robert Irwin.
The Earthshot Prize expressed their excitement about partnering with Nomzamo, stating, “We could not be more thrilled to announce Nomzamo Mbatha as an official #EarthshotPrize Ambassador, celebrating the people and projects that are changing our world for the better. We’re inspired by Nomzamo’s passion for protecting the environment and empowering future generations, and we’re so excited to partner with her to spotlight the innovators across Africa and the globe who are creating impact for our planet and our communities.”