Washington (USA), September 3 (ANI): Australian television star Robert Irwin, son of late wildlife expert Steve Irwin, has stepped up his partnership with Prince William as part of their joint efforts to combat environmental issues, reports People magazine.

The environmentalist has been selected as a Global Ambassador for Prince William’s Earthshot Award, further demonstrating his ongoing support for the programme, which aims to find solutions to some of the world’s most serious environmental problems.

Last year, Irwin, 20, attended the Earthshot Awards ceremony in Singapore and has been an active advocate for the initiative from the start. Now he joins South African actor and humanitarian Nomzamo Mbatha as one of Earthshot’s first global ambassadors, helping to expand the award’s purpose even further.

The Earthshot Prize is a global environmental award given annually to five winners for their contributions to the environment. It was launched in 2020 by Prince William and biologist David Attenborough. “Inspired by their late father Irwin, he, his sister Bindi Irwin, 26, and the rest of their family are passionate supporters of their conservation foundation Wildlife Warriors and work to protect endangered species through Australia Zoo. Prince William’s Earthshot Prize aims to celebrate groundbreaking ideas and innovations to heal the planet, rewarding leaders, entrepreneurs and companies in five key categories: Protecting and Restoring Nature, Cleaning the Air, Reviving the Oceans, Building a Waste-Free World and Fixing the Climate,” according to People magazine.

Irwin said in a statement that it was “an honor to join Nomzamo . . . to help shine a spotlight on inspiring changemakers who are saving the planet.” He added: “The Earthshot Prize is a beacon of hope for all of us who care about the environment and our ability to ensure a livable future for ourselves and future generations. Healthy oceans, ecosystems and species equal a healthy planet, and the Earthshot Prize recognizes the importance of investing in and helping develop solutions that protect these critical resources. I am honored to join Nomzamo as Earthshot’s first Global Ambassadors to help shine a spotlight on inspiring changemakers who are saving the planet.” Last year, while supporting the third Earthshot Prize ceremony in Singapore, Irwin shared his admiration for Prince William, saying: “It’s hard to put into words how huge Earthshot is for conservation, for climate action, for the world. For Prince William, who has such a great platform to lend his voice, his resources to create positive change is such a refreshing, wonderful thing to see. I appreciate what he does.” Their participation coincides with the announcement of additional members of the expanded Earthshot Prize board, which will help choose this year’s winners. Jose Andres, a humanist and restaurateur, has joined the board, as have Wanjira Mathai, an environmentalist and activist, and Nemonte Nenquimo, an Indigenous activist and author. They will work with Prince William and existing members, who include Queen Rania of Jordan, actress Cate Blanchett, radio great Sir David Attenborough, business leader Indra Nooyi and designer Stella McCartney.

The Earthshot Prize will be presented in Cape Town, South Africa, in November. The event will award $1.3 million to organizations or individuals who have innovative solutions to address the planet’s most pressing issues, offering them the support they need to develop their ideas, People reported. (ANI)