This week the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, are making their first visit to the United States in nearly a decade to announce the winners of this year’s Earthshot Prize. Groundwork USA’s Executive Director, Heather McMann, is honored to be included on the guest list alongside climate justice and clean energy champions to celebrate the innovative organizations paving the way for a climate resilient future.
The 2020s are the defining decade for combating climate change, and the actions we take now will set the course for the future of our planet. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s seemingly impossible ‘moonshot’ challenge – his vision for putting a man on the moon in less than a decade – Prince William and The Royal Foundation launched the Earthshot Prize in 2020 “to discover and scale the best solutions to help repair our planet within the next decade”
Heather McMann, of Groundwork USA, and Iliana Panameño, of GreenRoots Chelsea, will be attending the event at the invitation of Boston Host Committee member Dr. Max Holmes, President and CEO of The Woodwell Climate Research Center. Groundwork Lawrence and GreenRoots Chelsea have been partnering with Woodwell to assess the local risk that climate change poses Lawrence and Chelsea, Massachusetts. These partnerships are part of Woodwell’s efforts to broaden access to actionable climate risk insights that can inform effective, community-driven solutions that foster climate resilience and ensure that municipal climate policies are developed through a climate justice lens
“I’m honored to be able to join the celebration of this year’s Earthshot finalist thanks to our partners at the Woodwell Climate Research Center,” shares Groundwork USA’s Executive Director, Heather McMann and former Executive Director of Groundwork Lawrence. “It’s a privilege to have this opportunity to learn about innovative climate solutions happening around the globe to help inform Groundwork’s environmental justice and climate resilience efforts across the country.”
The ceremony, held on Friday, December 2nd at the MGM Music Hall in Boston will celebrate this year’s cohort of 15 global finalists and will award five winners The Earthshot Prize. One winner will be awarded in each of Prize’s 2030 priority areas: protecting and restoring nature; cleaning our air; reviving our oceans; building a waste-free world, and fixing our climate. The Awards will be available on PBS.org at 2:00 on Sunday, December 4th, and will be broadcast on PBS on Wednesday, December 14th (check local listings for times). Check it out to see if you can spot Heather on the green carpet!
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Groundwork USA is the national capacity-building organization for a cross-country network of people-centered environmental justice organizations working hand-in-hand with residents to transform environmentally disadvantaged urban neighborhoods into healthy, green, and resilient communities. We do this by developing community-based partnerships that empower people, businesses, and organizations to promote environmental, economic, and social well. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
GreenRoots, Inc., is a resident-led, grassroots, community-based organization with over 25 years of experience in achieving significant environmental justice accomplishments and public health victories in Chelsea, East Boston, MA and surrounding communities. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Woodwell Climate Research Center conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature—solutions that are urgently needed to propel us toward a more equitable, healthy, and sustainable world. Originally founded as the Woods Hole Research Center in 1985, we have a track record of partnering with a global network of communities and leaders to generate just, meaningful impact to address the climate crisis. Our Falmouth, MA headquarters are located on the traditional and sacred land of the Wampanoag people who still occupy this land, and whose history, language, traditional ways of life, and culture continue to influence this vibrant community.
