Environmentalists Criticise Earthshot Prize Venue Choice

The decision by the Prince of Wales’s Earthshot prize to host its upcoming annual awards ceremony at a venue owned by the billionaire Ambani family conglomerate has drawn criticism from environmentalists. The event, which awards one million pounds to five winners annually for conservation work, is scheduled for 17 November at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.

The venue is part of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, the owner of the world’s biggest oil refinery in Gujarat. Furthermore, the group’s philanthropic arm funds Vantara, a private zoo that has faced ongoing scrutiny and controversy regarding its vast collection of endangered animals and the speed of its acquisitions. Megan Carr of the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa warned that using this venue could grant unearned environmental prestige to a corporate group facing questions from the global conservation community.

Earthshot prize venue choice sparks criticism from conservationists over fossil fuels and private zoo.

Representatives for the Earthshot prize stated that they did not seek a philanthropic partnership and are paying the standard commercial rate to rent the space. Joanna Swift explained that the venue was chosen because it met the practical requirements for an event of this size and possessed the necessary technical infrastructure. Meanwhile, Vantara has previously denied allegations of wildlife trafficking, stating that its purpose is to rescue animals in distress and act as a modern Noah’s Ark. India’s supreme court cleared the zoo of illegal acquisition and mistreatment allegations last year, though international discussions regarding compliance and animal imports continue.

Why it matters

The choice of venue highlights the tensions between high-profile environmental initiatives and corporate associations with fossil fuels and private wildlife facilities. For readers in India and South Asia, the ongoing debates surrounding Cites compliance and private conservation models bring local environmental practices into sharp global focus.