Prince William reaches out to Earthshot finalist amid Nepal disaster

Prince William has turned his attention to Nepal’s devastating floods, speaking directly with an Earthshot Prize finalist working to help communities build back stronger.

The Prince of Wales, who is Founder and President of the Earthshot Prize, spoke via video link to Build Up Nepal on Friday, 11 September, following the recent natural disaster near the Nepal-China border. 

The engagement was recorded in the Court Circular as part of William’s official duties. 

Build Up Nepal was among the 2024 Earthshot Prize finalists and has developed low-carbon, affordable building materials designed to help communities construct safer and more resilient homes. 

Its work has taken on added significance as Nepal faces the devastating aftermath of the recent floods. 

The Prince’s conversation came as the initiative prepares to unveil its 2026 finalists next week.

In a new report released ahead of the announcement, the Earthshot Prize and the University of Exeter’s Green Futures Solutions team examine how environmental solutions could reach “positive tipping points.”

The report poses a hopeful question: What if positive changes begin to accelerate faster than negative ones?

It explores whether nature restoration could outpace environmental damage and whether renewable energy could become so affordable that fossil fuels struggle to compete.

The Earthshot Prize said the devastating floods in Nepal are a reminder that climate impacts are accelerating – but so are the solutions.