Earthshot Prize Faces Backlash Over Fossil Fuel Ties

The Earthshot prize ceremony, which awards £1m to five winners for conservation work, will be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on November 17. The venue is owned by Reliance Industries, a conglomerate owned by the Ambani family, which also owns the world's biggest oil refinery, Jamnagar, in Gujarat, India.

The choice of venue has drawn criticism from environmentalists, who point to Reliance Industries' significant fossil fuel businesses. The company's philanthropic arm also funds the Vantara zoo, which has a collection of over 150,000 animals, including endangered species. The zoo is home to over 2,000 species of animals and has been embroiled in controversy over its sourcing and collection practices.

The Earthshot prize is paying the standard commercial rate to rent the Jio World Convention Centre for the ceremony. However, conservation groups have raised concerns that using a venue owned by Reliance could lend an unearned environmental prestige to a corporate group currently under question by the global conservation community.

## Why it matters The Earthshot prize aims to recognize and reward conservation work, but the choice of venue has sparked concerns about the credibility of the award. The controversy surrounding the Vantara zoo, which is funded by Reliance Industries' philanthropic arm, has also raised questions about the company's commitment to environmental conservation. The Cites committee has requested that India submit a report on its steps to address concerns relating to imports of protected species, highlighting the need for greater transparency and accountability in the conservation of endangered species.

The Earthshot prize ceremony will still proceed as planned, with five winners set to receive £1m each for their conservation work. However, the backlash over the choice of venue serves as a reminder of the importance of considering the environmental and social implications of such events.