Hope Solutions and The Earthshot Prize – Five Years of Redefining Sustainable Events

There are few partnerships in the world of global events that carry the same purpose and weight as that between Hope Solutions and The Earthshot Prize. Over the past five years, their collaboration has quietly rewritten the rulebook for what sustainable live production can look like, transforming grand stages into platforms for genuine environmental impact.

When Prince William founded The Earthshot Prize in 2020, his aim was clear – to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet. From the very beginning, Hope Solutions has stood alongside the initiative, guiding it through every award ceremony and summit, from London to Cape Town. Each year, new challenges arise. Each year, new solutions are found.

Luke Howell, Founder and Director of Hope Solutions, speaks with the calm confidence of someone who knows the true scale of their work. “Working alongside The Earthshot Prize over the past five years has been a privilege. Each edition of the Awards Night presents a new set of challenges and opportunities. Together, I genuinely feel we’ve been able to push the boundaries of what sustainable global events can look like.”

Hope Solutions’ role extends far beyond traditional consultancy. The team has trained production crews, mapped environmental impacts, and helped broadcasters and event producers turn sustainability into a working practice rather than a buzzword. Every location, from the neon pulse of Singapore to the vibrant energy of Cape Town, has required a new approach. Each project builds on the last, aiming not just to measure carbon footprints but to leave behind lasting knowledge for local suppliers and teams.

For Stephen Lavery, Senior Impact and Insights Manager at The Earthshot Prize, Hope Solutions’ contribution has been vital. “Each year we take The Earthshot Prize Awards Night to a new country. This brings with it a new set of challenges to make the Awards broadcast as sustainable and low impact as possible. Since year one Hope Solutions have worked with us as a trusted partner, training our delivery partners and providing invaluable guidance.”

The timeline of their partnership reads like a case study in constant innovation. In 2021, Coldplay’s bike-powered performance at the London ceremony became an instant symbol of what live sustainability could achieve. The following year in Boston, local community projects benefited from trees used as stage design elements later planted in parks across the city. By 2023, the collaboration had evolved to encompass the entire Earthshot Week in Singapore, capturing a broader sustainability scope. The 2024 Cape Town edition added a new milestone as the first South African production to receive Albert Certification.

Later this year, Rio de Janeiro will take its place on the Earthshot map, with Hope Solutions already working to deliver detailed carbon analysis and practical recommendations in the lead-up to COP30. Behind the glamour and global headlines lies a deeply technical operation, one that combines science, logistics and creativity to produce events that inspire millions while keeping environmental impact low.

Hope Solutions’ influence extends well beyond The Earthshot Prize. The consultancy has become one of the most respected names in sustainable production, working across the music, entertainment and cultural sectors. Their mission is simple but profound – to help industries move from good intentions to measurable change.

Their work has been recognised by leading institutions, from the Society for the Environment to MIT, and celebrated in industry awards including Pollstar, Access All Areas, and the Women in Green Business Awards. Founder Luke Howell even sits on the judging panel for the TPi Green Award, a testament to the company’s standing within the field.

Hope Solutions’ philosophy is rooted in collaboration. They believe that entertainment has the power to shape behaviour, shift culture and inspire action. As Howell puts it, “Our job is to make that change possible with smart strategy, strong data and a deep understanding of how this industry works.”

Five years on, the results speak for themselves. The partnership between Hope Solutions and The Earthshot Prize has done more than reduce emissions. It has shown that the very events that bring people together can also bring the planet closer to recovery.

As The Earthshot Prize continues to discover the world’s most impactful solutions, Hope Solutions remains quietly behind the scenes ensuring that each celebration of innovation is built on the same values it honours – integrity, progress and hope.

For more about Hope Solutions, visit hopesolutions.services

For details about The Earthshot Prize, visit earthshotprize.org