What went right this week: the good news that matters

The Colombian capital Bogota has been crowned one of this year’s Earthshot Prize winners, following the city’s ambitious – and successful – efforts to cut air pollution. 

Bogota (main picture) has laid the biggest cycle network in Latin America, deployed one of the world’s largest electric bus fleets, and greened swathes of the city. These efforts have reportedly helped cut air pollution by 24% since 2018 – an achievement acknowledged by the Earthshot Prize. 

Launched in 2020 by Prince William, the award showcases solutions to environmental problems and helps their creators scale up by awarding them £1m each. The latest winners were announced at a star-studded event in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, ahead of the Cop30 climate conference. 

The other victors were: re.green, a project that’s restoring Brazil’s Atlantic Forest (pictured); The High Seas Treaty, a global agreement to protect international waters; Lagos Fashion Week, which is making sustainable clothing cool; and Friendship, an initiative to help vulnerable Bangladeshi communities prepare for natural disasters. 

“Their work is the proof we need that progress is possible,” said Prince William. “Their stories are the inspiration that gives us courage. There’s a great deal we can learn from their determination, their vision for scale, and their unyielding belief that we can create a better world.”

Image: Paltiel de Oliveira