Prince William strikes exciting new partnership with iconic television programme

Aspiring environmentalists are invited to submit original concepts addressing one of five 'Earthshots': Fix our Climate, Protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans, and Build a Waste-free World.

Winners will receive a certificate, an exclusive Blue Peter Orange competition winner's badge, and a copy of the Earthshot Prize book.

They will also be invited to participate in special VIP filming with Blue Peter.

The competition invites children to describe their innovative ideas for a sustainable future, accompanied by a drawing or poster. Entries will be judged in age categories, with five overall winners chosen, one for each Earthshot category.

Prince William, founder of the Earthshot Prize, stated: "I started the Earthshot Prize to search for solutions to the world's biggest environmental challenges and we want to find the next generation of young inventors who can make a change."

Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, added: "We're thrilled to partner with Blue Peter to inspire young minds to use their boundless imagination to envision the future they want to live in."

The competition has garnered support from five environmental champions who will introduce topics and present Blue Peter films about UK projects working to protect the planet. These include:

• Steve Backshall, wildlife TV presenter and conservationist, for Fix Our Climate.
• Hamza Yassin, wildlife camera operator and TV presenter, for Protect and Restore Nature.
• Bonnie Wright, actress and environmentalist, for Clean Our Air.
• Inka Creswell, wildlife filmmaker and marine biologist, for Revive Our Oceans.
• Sam Bentley, social media creator and entrepreneur, for Build a Waste Free World.

Steve Backshall expressed hope that the competition will "empower children to see that their ideas can come to life and really make a difference."

The competition is open to UK residents aged 5-15 and closes on 28 October 2024 at 5pm. Winners will be announced on Blue Peter in 2025.

Teachers and pupils can engage with the competition through BBC Teach, which offers free resources as part of their Planet Create classroom challenges.

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Sarah Muller, Senior Head of BBC Children's Commissioning 7+, said: "Blue Peter has a proud history of engaging children in real world issues, and since 1988, the green badge has inspired kids to make positive changes to live in a more environmentally friendly way."

The initiative aims to inspire primary pupils to think about the environment and sustainable living in an engaging and fun way.

The Blue Peter Earthshot competition launches on Friday September 6 at 5pm on CBBC and BBC iPlayer. It builds on Blue Peter's long-standing commitment to environmental issues, including its green badge initiative which has encouraged eco-friendly actions since 1988.

The competition aligns with The Earthshot Prize's global mission, founded in 2020, to identify inspiring ideas and innovations that protect the planet and create a sustainable future.

By partnering with Blue Peter, The Earthshot Prize aims to harness young people's creativity and optimism to drive environmental change.

This collaboration between a beloved children's programme and a prestigious environmental initiative could be a significant step in engaging the next generation of environmental leaders and innovators.