The City of Bogota was awarded the Earthshot Prize for “Clean Our Air” on Thursday, honored by Prince of Wales William for a sweeping program of policies that city leaders say have cut air pollution by about 24% since 2018 and redesigned how nearly 8 million residents move and live.
The award, presented by Prince William at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, and accompanied by a £1 million (US$1.3 million) grant, will support scaling and replication of Bogota’s approach, the Earthshot Prize organizers said. The event also recognized four other winners: re.green of Brazil (Protect and Restore Nature), the High Seas Treaty (Revive Our Oceans), Lagos Fashion Week of Nigeria (Build a Waste-Free World), and Friendship of Bangladesh (Fix Our Climate).
Bogota’s effort centers on shifting the city away from diesel buses and heavy freight, expanding walking and cycling, reclaiming street space, and re-greening degraded areas. The city has invested roughly US$19.9 billion in sustainable mobility, air quality, and public space, officials said, building more than 100 kilometers of low-emission bus lanes, operating a fleet of more than 1,400 electric buses, creating the largest cycle-path network in Latin America, adding three cable-car lines, and beginning construction of its first metro line.
Bogota’s mayor says the grant from the Earthshot Prize will help launch a second low-emission zone in 2026
Bogota’s Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan said the prize and funds will help launch a second low-emission zone in 2026 and produce a replication blueprint for other cities. “If Bogota wins The Earthshot Prize, it would not just be an honour for us, but for cities in the global south proving that bold climate action is urgent and possible,” Galan said in a statement.
A flagship measure was the creation of an Urban Zone for Clean Air (ZUMA) in Bosa, a highly polluted, low-income neighborhood, where officials have focused on freight renewal, road paving, greening, and safer walking and cycling. Bogota is also planting 20,000 trees and promoting urban gardens, green roofs, and urban forests to improve air quality and resilience.
The City of @Bogota wins The Earthshot Prize to Clean Our Air for its work in reducing air pollution by 24% for the people of Bogotá.#EarthshotRio pic.twitter.com/Yb72Zv2xHt
— The Earthshot Prize (@EarthshotPrize) November 6, 2025
Organizers said the results have been measurable, as despite population growth, particulate pollution, and related emissions have fallen nearly a quarter since 2018. By 2028, Bogota expects to avoid more than 300,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent a year, roughly the same as preserving a forest 10 times the size of Manhattan or removing about 65,000 cars from the road.
Prince William says the winners show that progress is possible
The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William in 2020, honors practical solutions that can be scaled to address environmental challenges. The 2025 winners were chosen from nearly 2,500 nominations across 72 countries. The awards ceremony, hosted by Brazilian broadcaster Luciano Huck, featured performances by Anitta and Kylie Minogue.
Prince William said the winners demonstrate “that progress is possible,” praising their work as proof that coordinated action can deliver major environmental gains. Christiana Figueres, chair of the Earthshot board, called the winners’ 2030 goals “deeply ambitious” and said their plans give reason for optimism about meeting global conservation and climate targets.
The High Seas Treaty was recognized for creating a legal framework to enable marine protected areas on the high seas; re.green won for a technology-driven Atlantic Forest restoration plan in Brazil; Lagos Fashion Week was honored for work toward a waste-free apparel sector; and Friendship of Bangladesh was cited in the climate category.