Britain's Prince William has revealed the 15 finalists for the Earthshot Prize, an environmental award aimed at encouraging innovative solutions to global ecological challenges. The prize, launched in 2020, was inspired by U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 "Moonshot" speech, which called for ambitious goals in science and exploration. The Earthshot Prize focuses on five key areas: climate change, pollution, habitat loss, and other environmental threats. Winners receive £1 million ($1.34 million) and support to scale up their work. This year’s list includes a variety of projects from around the world, each working toward a more sustainable future. Among the finalists is the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, a group that has worked for nearly 30 years to protect wildlife migration corridors across the Rocky Mountains. The initiative spans from Wyoming to northwestern Canada and focuses on creating safe passage for animals by building wildlife overpasses, underpasses, and fencing to help them cross busy roads. The group collaborates with local communities, governments, and Indigenous peoples to preserve wild lands and ensure animals can move freely. This effort has led to the creation of 204 wildlife crossings and the protection of over 24 million hectares (59 million acres) of land. Other notable finalists include an Argentine project using artificial intelligence and satellite data to detect and track wildfires in Latin America. Another entry is the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance, which seeks to reduce carbon emissions in the shipping industry. Additionally, Orsted, a major developer of offshore wind farms, is also nominated for its work in renewable energy. These projects represent a range of approaches to tackling environmental issues, from technological innovation to policy and community collaboration. The winners will be announced on November 17 during a televised event in Mumbai. Jason Knauf, CEO of the Earthshot Prize, highlighted the importance of initiatives like Yellowstone to Yukon, which work to overcome human-made barriers—both physical and political. The group’s president and chief scientist, Jodi Hilty, emphasized that animals do not recognize national borders and that the key to conservation is bringing people together to find solutions. "The solution is surprisingly simple," she said. "Animals need space to move, and we work with everyone to create a landscape where they can do so freely."