JFK Library Foundation Announces Boston Host Committee for the Earthshot Prize

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2022
Media Contact:
Valerie Linson
valerie.linson@jfklfoundation.org
press@jfklfoundation.org

JFK Library Foundation Announces Boston Host Committee for the Earthshot Prize
– Environmental Leaders and Business Community Join Mayor Wu, Gov. Baker, and Jack Schlossberg to Welcome Prince William’s Earthshot Prize Ceremony to Boston –

BOSTON–The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and The Earthshot Prize today announced the formation of the Host Committee for the 2022 Earthshot Prize ceremony in Boston. Honorary co-chairs Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, and President Kennedy’s grandson Jack Schlossberg, along with co-chairs Sandy and Paul Edgerley, will lead a distinguished Host Committee comprised of representatives from local environmental groups, prominent elected officials, academic institutions, and community leaders in business, philanthropy, and climate innovation. The 2022 Earthshot Prize ceremony will take place in early December at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and the City of Boston.

Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s iconic 1962 “Moonshot” speech calling upon Americans to embrace and commit to the visionary goal of reaching the moon within a decade, The Earthshot Prize is an ambitious global environmental prize that aims to discover and scale innovative solutions to help repair the planet within a decade.​ The Earthshot Prize will honor initiatives that help to meet five key goals – 1) Protect and restore nature; 2) Clean our air; 3) Revive our oceans; 4) Build a waste-free world; and 5) Fix our climate. The five winning solutions, selected from fifteen finalists, will be announced at the Boston Ceremony and will receive £1 million each to increase their impact.

The Earthshot Prize – Boston 2022 Host Committee will support host partners the JFK Library Foundation and the City of Boston in engaging the region’s communities in this year’s Earthshot Prize, and in lifting up the story of Boston’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Host Committee members are serving as essential advisors and in the week leading up to the ceremony, will help convene a vibrant exploration of important environmental issues facing Boston and the US, including climate justice and climate resiliency. Additionally, Committee members will support efforts to build an inclusive audience for the live ceremony by inviting young people in their communities who are committed to repairing the planet. Committee member organizations are also invited to announce new commitments and initiatives that will extend the impact of the Earthshot Prize in Boston beyond the December ceremony.

“We are thrilled to bring The Earthshot Prize to Boston this year and are honored to work in partnership with incredible individuals and organizations doing such critical work on climate and sustainability across the city,” said Hannah Jones, CEO of The Earthshot Prize. “We are grateful to the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation for convening these impactful community leaders, and look forward to supporting the continued legacy they will collectively leave as they work to address the most pressing environmental issues across Boston and beyond.”

“The Earthshot Prize brings an historic opportunity to recommit to the spirit of innovation and collaboration that has long made Boston a leader in addressing some of our most pressing environmental challenges here and around the globe,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am inspired that so many of Boston’s leaders will join us in celebrating The Earthshot Prize and committing to the ambitious goal we all share of building a healthy and bright future for generations to come.”

"Massachusetts is thrilled to host the 2022 Earthshot Prize Ceremony," said Governor Charlie Baker. "The Commonwealth has always been a global hub for innovation, and we know that addressing climate change will require imagination and creativity. We are proud that The Earthshot Prize will recognize some of those solutions right here in Massachusetts, the home of President Kennedy, whose words inspired this initiative."

“President Kennedy challenged America to put a man on the moon – and 60 years later, the same energy and optimism that powered his moonshot inspires a new generation of leaders to build a better planet and a better world,” said Jack Schlossberg. “The JFK Library Foundation is proud to bring together a wide range of leaders to welcome The Earthshot Prize to Boston.”

“We are thrilled to welcome The Earthshot Prize to Greater Boston and proud to help showcase the unparalleled talent and creative spirit that make Massachusetts a world-class hub of innovation and human achievement,” said Sandy and Paul Edgerley. “We look forward to this unprecedented opportunity to gather in partnership with leaders and thinkers from around the world to inspire and drive global progress on the critical issue of climate change.”

“From adapting to extreme weather and flooding to creating more inclusive neighborhoods, the climate resilience issues facing the Boston waterfront demand the creativity and collaboration that are at the heart of The Earthshot Prize,” said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now, Executive Committee member of the Stone Living Lab, and member of The Earthshot Prize – Boston 2022 Host Committee. “We are honored to be part of this effort that allows our region to both learn and inspire, in support of a more resilient and equitable world.”

"The climate crisis is the challenge of our lifetime, but it also presents an incredible economic opportunity to power an inclusive and just energy transition," said Kerry Bowie, Executive Director and President of Browning the Green Space and member of The Earthshot Prize – Boston 2022 Host Committee. "Recognizing dreamers, leaders, and entrepreneurs for taking their Earthshot will help us move closer to where we all should be collectively and create the opportunity to change the face of clean energy as we know it."

The members currently confirmed to the Host Committee include:

Honorary Members

  • Honorary Co-Chair, Governor Charlie Baker, Massachusetts
  • Honorary Co-Chair, Mayor Michelle Wu, Boston
  • Honorary Co-Chair, Jack Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
  • The Honorable John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
  • The Honorable Michael S. Regan, Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
  • The Honorable Edward J. Markey, United States Senator, MA and Co-Author, Green New Deal
  • Gina McCarthy, former White House National Climate Advisor
  • Senate President Karen E. Spilka, Massachusetts State Senate
  • Speaker Ronald J. Mariano, Massachusetts House of Representatives
  • Dame Karen Pierce, British Ambassador to the United States

Committee Chairs

  • Sandy and Paul Edgerley

Event Sponsors

  • Bank of America | Brian Moynihan, Chair and Chief Executive Officer
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance | David H. Long, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
  • CVS Health | Karen S. Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer
  • John Hancock | Marianne Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer

Event Partners

  • Katherine F. Abbott, President and CEO, Boston Harbor Now
  • Dr. Peter Abbott OBE, British Consul General to New England
  • Sara Arman, Director of Health Equity and Policy, GreenRoots
  • Jen Benson, President, Alliance for Business Leadership
  • Kerry Bowie, President and Executive Director, Browning the Green Space
  • Robert Chambers, Vice President for Strategic Engagement and Chief of Staff, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
  • Bob Chen, Interim Dean, School for the Environment, UMass Boston
  • Joe Christo, Managing Director, Stone Living Lab
  • Christopher Cook, Executive Director, The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy
  • Joseph A. Curtatone, President, Northeast Clean Energy Council
  • Jennifer Daloisio, Chief Executive Officer, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
  • Rachel Flor, Executive Director, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
  • Andrés Holder, Executive Director, Boston Children’s Chorus
  • Max Holmes, President and CEO, Woodwell Climate Research Center
  • Matt Holzer, Head of School, Boston Green Academy
  • David C. Howse, Vice President for Office of the Arts, Emerson College and Executive Director, ArtsEmerson
  • Rachel Kyte, Dean, Fletcher School at Tufts University
  • Mike Lake, President and CEO, Leading Cities
  • Vivien Li, Former President, The Boston Harbor Association
  • Amy Longsworth, Executive Director, Boston Green Ribbon Commission
  • Mindy S. Lubber, CEO and President, Ceres
  • Peter de Menocal, President and Director, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
  • Dr. Michelle Miller Groves, Executive Director, Center for Computing and Interdisciplinary Technology, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
  • Catherine T. Morris, Director of Arts and Culture, The Boston Foundation
  • Alissa Peterson, Co-Founder and Executive Director, SeaAhead
  • Jean-Luc Pierite, President of the Board of Directors, North American Indian Center of Boston
  • Alan C. Price, Director, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
  • Jean Ann Ramey, Executive Director, Climable
  • Emily Reichert, Chief Executive Officer, Greentown Labs
  • Elizabeth Solomon, Elder, Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag
  • Vikki N. Spruill, President and CEO, New England Aquarium
  • Jen Stevenson Zepeda, Associate Executive Director, Climable
  • James H. Stock, Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability and Director, Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, Harvard University
  • Vidya Tikku, Vice President, Urban Outdoors, The Trustees of Reservations 
  • Elizabeth Turnbull Henry, President, Environmental League of Massachusetts
  • Dwaign Tyndal, Executive Director, Alternatives for Community and Environment
  • Rev. Vernon K. Walker, Program Director, Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW)
  • Malene Welch, Director of Community Engagement, Boston Children's Museum; Co-Founder, Boston Harbor Women of Color Coalition
  • Julie Wormser, Senior Policy Advisor, Mystic River Watershed Association
  • Maria T. Zuber, Vice President for Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Visit this webpage for up-to-date information about the activities of Host Committee members or sign up for email updates about The Earthshot Prize in Boston.

Additional Quotes from Host Committee Members:

“Addressing climate change and its impacts is one of the greatest challenges of our time,” said Liberty Mutual Insurance Chief Sustainability Officer Francis Hyatt. “At Liberty Mutual we exist to help people embrace today so that they can confidently pursue tomorrow, and this includes managing risks associated with the changing climate. As a member of the Host Committee, we’re proudly supporting this year’s Earthshot Prize Ceremony as we share the organization’s commitment to courage and innovation in the pursuit of sustainability solutions.”

“The Earthshot Prize is leading critical work and inspiring action to repair our planet and shape a healthy future for generations to come,” said Karen S. Lynch, President and CEO of CVS Health. “We are honored to join the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and The Earthshot Prize to recognize innovative initiatives in support of the environment.”

“The Earthshot Prize takes aim at the urgent need to repair the health of our planet and accelerate a sustainable future, just as President Kennedy called on the American people to act urgently at a pivotal moment in the space race,” said Marianne Harrison, President and CEO of John Hancock and member of The Earthshot Prize – Boston 2022 Host Committee. “At John Hancock, we’re doing our part to support the transition to a net zero economy, reducing our emissions, and providing nature-based solutions to protect and preserve the environment, and we are proud to help convene this cross-sector global competition in Boston to channel the boldest ambitions toward the future we all wish to see.” 

"Congratulations to The Earthshot Prize on not only raising the importance of climate action but connecting a broader audience to solutions that are already available to scale," said Executive Director of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Chris Cook. "As a park that connects people and neighborhoods through organic, ecological horticulture and diverse programming and public art, we are proud to support The Earthshot Prize in Boston."

“Now more than ever we need to be fostering human genius and accelerating its deployment. The Earthshot Prize stands out for recognizing how essential it is that innovation have impact at the local level, that the most brilliant solutions are the most democratized solutions. When President Kennedy called his moonshot it was only two people who first set foot on the moon. When it comes to achieving the sustainable world envisioned by The Earthshot Prize, all of humankind must take that step together,” said Host Committee member and Northeast Clean Energy Council President Joseph A. Curtatone.

“Solutions to our most pressing climate challenges exist and, with unprecedented global collaboration and partnership, they can forestall the most negative impacts of climate change,” said Jennifer Daloisio, CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. “The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is delighted and honored to be on the Earthshot Prize 2022 Host Committee. Our organizations share a passionate drive to discovering and growing bold clean energy solutions. We share the galvanizing call to climate action inspired by JFK’s moving moonshot speech.”

“Boston Children’s Chorus is delighted in playing host in this historic and important celebration,” said Andrés Holder, Executive Director of the Boston Children’s Chorus. “A new generation of leaders comes to the fore, our young people must be at the center of a reimagined more equitable, just, and empathetic future. Our lives on this planet depend on it.”

"Climate change poses an existential threat, but a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future is not out of reach. I'm excited to be part of the Committee organizing a celebration of individuals and ideas with the potential to move us in that direction," said Max Holmes, President and CEO of Woodwell Climate Research Center.

“With the world heading toward certain climate disaster while falling short of achieving critical carbon reduction goals, programs like The Earthshot Prize and Leading Cities’ AcceliCITY accelerator, are empowering amazing entrepreneurs to bring their innovative and world-changing solutions to the market. Climate change is a threat to us, but there is tremendous hope in the impact generated by new technologies, inspiring entrepreneurs, and creative civic leaders,” said Mike Lake, President and CEO of Leading Cities. “Leading Cities and I, personally, are honored to advance this crucial effort to save our planet and ease the devastating impact climate has already ravaged on countless people and communities around the world.”

“Thanks to The Earthshot Prize's focus on building a waste-free world, we are seeing many more organizations and local volunteers working to keep useable foods out of landfills and help address food insecurity among the most vulnerable populations,” said Vivien Li, former President of The Boston Harbor Association and a volunteer at soup kitchens and food pantries. “Globally, food waste generates more than 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.”

"The Earthshot Prize offers a fantastic opportunity for Boston to showcase our many nation-leading climate initiatives, but also to shine a light on the fact that we remain a vulnerable coastal city with a long road ahead to decarbonize buildings and transportation, build greater resilience into our infrastructure, and ensure the safety and health of all residents, especially those living in the most climate-risky neighborhoods," said Amy Longsworth, Executive Director of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission.

“This year, we took a monumental step to mobilize more public and private sector leaders to take bold actions on the compounding climate and water crises,” said Mindy Lubber, Ceres CEO and President. “In order to meet the nation’s ambitious climate and water goals and transition to a more just and inclusive zero emissions economy, we have much more work ahead. We will continue to encourage investors and companies to follow through with their commitments and publish transparent action plans to show how they are going to achieve those commitments. We will also continue to call on them to support strong policies and regulations including mandatory corporate climate disclosure to ensure we protect our economy from the material and financial risks of climate change and water scarcity for generations to come.”

“We are honored to be part of the upcoming Earthshot Prize event in Boston because our students, many of whom live in environmental justice communities, are concerned about climate change and want to help reduce carbon emissions through their work,” said Dr. Michelle Miller-Groves from the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology. “To give our students agency in helping to repair the planet while providing them opportunities in the greening job market, BFCIT has increased our program offerings in the areas of green and smart building technology, renewable energy systems, and electric car manufacturing and repair.”

“It’s a great feeling to have our work in communities recognized by this globally important institution,” said Jean Ann Ramey, Executive Director of Climable. “The boost for Climable in terms of increased awareness of the work we do will be felt for months and years to come.”

“We are honored to be part of the Earthshot Prize and help support individuals who are innovating and reimagining solutions to some of our biggest challenges, like the impact climate change is having on our ocean,” said Vikki N. Spruill, President and CEO of the New England Aquarium. “At the New England Aquarium, we see firsthand the effects the warming ocean is having on animals and habitats, and that rising sea levels are having on our waterfront and coastlines. We are committed to helping support new bluetech startups with scalable solutions that enhance ocean health, sustainable ocean industry, and global resilience, and to working for an accessible, welcoming, and climate resilient downtown waterfront for Boston to help ensure a healthy planet for future generations.”

“The biggest problems posed by climate change cut across fields, sectors, and disciplines, so by working together — with faculty, researchers, and students from Harvard through the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, with other institutions and partners throughout our region and beyond — we’ll be better positioned to tackle these big challenges. Harvard is delighted to join the Host Committee welcoming The Earthshot prize to Boston this year, and to be part of an important collective effort to harness innovation and creative thinking from across our Greater Boston community and around the globe to drive meaningful and constructive climate progress,” said James H. Stock, Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability and Director at Harvard University’s Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability.

“I am honored to join The Earthshot Prize Host Committee and partner with my fellow leaders and activists to tackle the defining issue of the 21st century,” said Vidya Tikku, Vice President of Urban Outdoors at The Trustees of Reservations. “As the globe becomes increasingly urban—more than 70 percent of the earth’s population will live in a city by 2050—it is especially important that we find innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions, fund sustainable development and transportation, and create new urban green spaces to reduce food, heat, and flooding threats and protect our most vulnerable populations.”

“The Earthshot Prize recognizes that through innovation and collaboration, we can solve our most pressing issue, climate change. Here in Massachusetts, we pride ourselves on being the birthplace to ambitious solutions to our great challenges and are honored to be the host of the 2022 Earthshot Prize,” said President of the Environmental League of Massachusetts Elizabeth Turnbull Henry. “I am honored to join the Host Committee and bring the environmental policy expertise ELM has built over our 124 years.”

"CREW is delighted to be part of the Host Committee for The Earthshot Prize. CREW represents a coalition of diverse groups working towards educating underserved communities about extreme weather impacts through climate resilience workshops. CREW provides communities with resources to prepare for extreme weather such as heat relief cooling kits in the summer and flood kits in the winter,” said Rev. Vernon K. Walker, Program Director of Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW). “Together with the rest of the host committee, CREW intends to promote The Earthshot Prize in our network and ensure there is diverse representation in attendance and participation at Earthshot Prize events."

“We are honored to be among those celebrating this year's Earthshot Prize winners," said Julie Wormser, Senior Policy Advisor at the Mystic River Watershed Association. "Getting to the moon is hard enough. Reversing climate change and closing gaps between rich and poor truly requires our best selves. These celebrants are showing us the way with creativity and optimism."

About The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation:

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is the non-profit partner and creative collaborator of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, which is administered by the United States National Archives and Records Administration. Over the past forty years, this partnership has produced world class exhibits, the largest, most advanced digital archive created by a presidential library, award-winning educational and digital resources, and public programs that make the Library the largest convener of public dialogues in the Boston area. Grounded in archival evidence, these activities promote a greater appreciation of America’s political and cultural heritage, help people understand the major challenges facing democracy today, and inspire new generations to engage with the issues at the heart of contemporary life that relate to the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.

About The Earthshot Prize:

The Earthshot Prize is the most prestigious environment prize in history, launched in October 2020 by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, and designed to discover and scale the best solutions to repair our planet over the next ten years. A truly global project, The Earthshot Prize was developed by The Royal Foundation, which convened a diverse nominator coalition of more than 200 people and organizations around the world, comprising influential individuals committed to championing positive environmental action. The Prize is backed by The Earthshot Prize Council, a global team of influential individuals, who will be responsible for awarding The Earthshot Prize every year from 2021 until 2030.