Prince William's inaugural Earthshot Prize gala planned with environment in mind in every detail

From the Met Gala to the Baftas, awards ceremonies around the world are judged by the stellar cast of A-listers jetting in to walk the red carpet.

As the Duke of Cambridge plans his inaugural Earthshot Prize gala, he has set out a different measure of success: not just who is there, but who isn’t.

The Duke and Duchess are swapping the red carpet for the green carpet for the “Eco Oscars” ceremony in London next weekend, with no guests or presenters flying in especially for the awards in their bid to help save the planet.

Laying out its green credentials, organisers said every element of the prize ceremony was planned with the environment in mind, from plant-based canapes to paperless script editing.

The 15 finalists, whose projects are based in 14 countries overseas, will beam in from around the world virtually, sparing the carbon footprint of potentially thousands of aeroplane tickets.

A star-studded list of presenters and hosts is made up of British actors, sportsmen and musicians who already live here or are staying in the country for other reasons.

Those who live overseas, such as singer Shawn Mendes, will perform virtually, while a fossil fuel-free set from Coldplay will be powered by energy created by 60 cyclists.

The five awards, which will see winners given £1million towards their environmental innovations, will be announced by the Duchess of Cambridge, Dame Emma Thompson, actress and feminist campaigner Emma Watson, actor and producer David Oyelowo and footballer Mo Salah.

Hosted by Clara Amfo and Dermot O’Leary, the event will be introduced by Prince William, with a starring role for Sir David Attenborough, and feature performances from musicians Ed Sheeran, KSI and Yemi Alade.

A royal source said: “The original brief for the set design was that this has to be the most environmentally sustainable production possible. It was ‘not a nice to have’, but essential.

“The Duke has been involved in conversations since day one. For him and all of the team the sustainability has been absolutely imperative.”

The event, at Alexandra Palace in London, will have sets built using recyclable or reusable material, with low-energy or LED lighting.

Nothing new is being bought for the show

All screens have been hired and will be returned for use elsewhere, with nothing new being bought for the show on Sunday, Oct 17.

The BBC staff working on the broadcast have been cycling up the hill to work at Alexandra Palace each day, with everyone on site eating plant-based food.

Canapes served to guests on the night will all be plant-based, with the event planning done on a paperless basis and all the scripts edited and agreed online.

The Duke and Duchess will travel across London from Kensington Palace by car for the evening.

The Duchess of Cambridge is to overcome her nerves about public speaking to present one of the awards: the first time she has taken a significant speaking role at an event broadcast to an audience of millions around the globe.

In the next nine years, nine other Earthshot Prize ceremonies will take place in different countries around the world, with local stars performing.

A source said the organisers had found creative ways for nominees and VIPs to join in the event without travelling.

Celebrities have previously faced accusations of hypocrisy after flying around the world on private jets and using super yachts while lecturing others about climate change. The Duke of Sussex recently defended his family's own use of private jets as being for security, as he launched his eco-friendly tourism project Travalyst.

The Earthshot Prize ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and globally on Discovery's Facebook page at 8pm on Oct 17.

Jason Knauf, CEO of The Royal Foundation said: “This will be an award show unlike any you’ve seen before that will entertain you and inspire you to take action to repair the planet in this decisive decade."

Jack Bootle, the BBC's head of commissioning, science and natural history, said: “The ceremony promises to be an evening of excitement, music and stardust - and the winners might just go on to change the world!”