“Our winners and all our finalists remind us that, no matter where you are on our planet, the spirit of ingenuity, and the ability to inspire change, surrounds us all,” William said.

Apart from the prize money, all 15 finalists – chosen from more than 1,100 nominations – will receive a year of technical support and resources to help them accelerate and expand their work.

The other finalists included a US company that found a way to recycle polycotton fabrics, which makes up half of all textile waste; a programme to plant, grow and digitally track trees in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown, where 70 per cent of trees have been cut down; an anti-smog movement in Poland, which has the dirtiest air in Europe; and a UK company making low-emission tires for electric vehicles.

The Earthshot Prize was launched in 2020 by William’s Royal Foundation charity as a 10-year programme to shore up innovative solutions and technologies against the planet’s greatest environmental perils.

In line with the sustainability theme, William wore a 10-year-old dark green blazer by Alexander McQueen. Other celebrities including Yen donned an old suit, while South African actress Mbatha wore a bright navy blue gown by Stella McCartney, known for her eco-friendly clothing.

The glitzy ceremony at the theatre in state-owned Media Corp. was co-hosted by actors Hannah Waddingham and Sterling K. Brown.

The bands One Republic and Bastille, and US singer Bebe Rexha performed for the night.

Singapore ministers and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also attended. Ardern, a trustee of the Earthshot board, said before the ceremony that Earthshot had helped amplified the solutions needed to fight climate change.

“We need speed and pace and Earthshot focuses on providing both,” she said.