Youth climate activists Luisa Neubauer and Ernest Gibson joined a global team of high-profile leaders from the environmental, philanthropic, business, sport and entertainment worlds as the newest members of The Earthshot Prize Council.
Luisa is a climate activist, author and co-organiser of the school strike movement in Germany. Ernest is a community health activist from Fiji who is part of the seven-member United Nations Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change and the Pacific Island representative. Together they bring a wealth of experience in activating young people, local communities and governments to support the environment and fight climate change.
The full list of The Earthshot Prize Council, including those announced in October last year, are:
- His Royal Highness Prince William
- Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah (Jordan)
- Cate Blanchett – actor, producer and humanitarian (Australia)
- Christiana Figueres – Former UN climate chief, responsible for the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change (Costa Rica)
- Dani Alves – professional footballer (Brazil)
- Sir David Attenborough – broadcaster and natural historian (UK)
- Ernest Gibson – community activist (Fiji)
- Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim – environmental activist (Chad)
- Indra Nooyi – business executive and former Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo (US & India)
- Jack Ma – philanthropist, entrepreneur and UNSDG Advocate (China)
- Luisa Neubauer – climate justice activist (Germany)
- Naoko Yamazaki – former astronaut onboard the International Space Station (Japan)
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala – Director-General World Trade Organisation (Nigeria)
- Shakira Mebarak – singer and philanthropist (Colombia)
- Yao Ming – Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and environmentalist (China).
Ahead of the announcement, Luisa and Ernest joined a video call with Prince William to discuss their work in environmental activism and the critical role that The Earthshot Prize can play in repairing our planet over the next ten years.
During the call, Luisa said: “The climate crisis can appear like a story of a drowning ship, a story of how things are getting worse and worse until there is nothing left to fight for. It’s up to us to turn this story around, from a ship that is drowning to this ship we are building. We are looking for solutions that will come from people who rise together and decide we need to make changes.”
Ernest said: “I’m tired of being told that something is a lost cause. [The Earthshot Prize] provides a level of hope that is enormously needed. What we need now is solutions because we don’t have time for anything else. We have ten years to be able to turn this ship around. I feel privileged and blessed to be asked to be a part of [The Earthshot Prize]” he added.
Every year for the next ten years, Members of The Earthshot Prize Council will choose five winners to award The Earthshot Prize for the most viable solutions to the biggest environmental challenges facing our planet. The first awards ceremony will take place in London in Autumn 2021.
Find out more about The Earthshot Prize“It is fantastic to have not only two inspirational people who care a lot about the environment and the climate, but also young people. I think the youth movement has shown just how important the environment and climate is being held and that’s been really interesting to watch young people around the world speak up a lot about it. I’m so pleased that you’re both on board – you bring much needed youthfulness, expertise and activism to The Earthshot Prize Council.”
– Prince William
