Environmentalists criticise choice of Earthshot prize venue owned by fossil fuel firm

The Prince of Wales's Earthshot prize will host its forthcoming annual awards ceremony at a venue owned by the billionaire Ambani family conglomerate, drawing criticism from conservationists over their fossil fuel businesses and their foundation's controversial mega-zoo. A spokesperson for the Earthshot prize, which awards £1m to five winners every year to invest in conservation work, confirmed to the Guardian and Mongabay that this year's ceremony will be held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on 17 November.

The venue is part of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries, which also owns Jamnagar, the world's biggest oil refinery in Gujarat on India's western coast. The group's philanthropic arm funds the 400-hectare private zoo Vantara, founded by Mukesh's son Anant Ambani and inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.

Controversial zoo connections

Vantara is embroiled in controversy over its vast collection of more than 150,000 animals, reportedly including some of the world's most endangered species – from the radiated tortoise to the Spex's macaw, now considered extinct in the wild. Conservation groups, including the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa (WAPFSA), have raised concerns about the speed with which Vantara has amassed so many animals and how they were sourced.

This week, the 32-member committee that governs Cites, the UN-administered body regulating trade in endangered species, requested that India submit another report on steps it is taking to address concerns relating to its imports of protected species. The committee also requested the Cites secretariat review 11 cases with unresolved questions about animal shipments to Vantara.

Prize organizers defend venue choice

Joanna Swift, the executive director of communications at the Earthshot prize, said it had not sought a philanthropic partnership for its award ceremony venue and was paying the standard commercial rate to rent the space. The Jio World Convention Centre was selected because it allowed us to host the event in Mumbai while meeting the practical requirements of an event of this size. It offers world-class facilities, technical infrastructure and experience of hosting major international events, including environmental ones, Swift said.

Swift emphasized that it was vital to host an edition of the Earthshot prize in India. "Mumbai is the sixth largest city on earth. It is home to exceptional environmental solutions and the people behind them, with an impact felt in India and around the world. Spotlighting progress like this, to the largest possible audience, is why the Earthshot prize exists," she added.

Conservation concerns persist

Vantara has previously denied allegations of wildlife trafficking, stating its purpose is "to rescue wild animals in distress, provide treatment along with lifelong care, and rehabilitate those fit for the wild." However, Susan Cheyne, vice-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature's small apes section, said that Vantara's model has not yet been shown to support conservation and "may be driving demand for wild animals in trade."

Daniela Freyer, co-founder of the German NGO Pro Wildlife, added: Our planet is increasingly threatened by the overexploitation of wildlife and by climate change driven by fossil fuels. This week, the Cites Standing Committee decided to keep India under its compliance procedure, as questions remain about the origin of some of the world's rarest animals imported to Vantara. A prize whose goals include protecting nature and fixing our climate should be careful not to lend its reputation to these questions.