Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 12 hrs ago
Earthshot prize venue in Mumbai draws criticism over Reliance ownership
The Earthshot prize will hold its annual awards in Mumbai on 17 November at the Jio World Convention Centre.
The prize gives £1m to each of five winners every year to support conservation work.
The venue belongs to Reliance Industries, whose businesses include the world’s biggest oil refinery.
Conservationists say the choice could give environmental prestige to a company whose fossil fuel businesses and links to the Vantara zoo have drawn scrutiny.
Vantara, founded by Mukesh Ambani’s son, has faced questions about how it obtained its large collection of animals, though India’s supreme court cleared it of allegations of illegal acquisition or mistreatment last year.
A Cites committee has asked India for another report and a review of 11 animal-transfer cases linked to the zoo.
Earthshot says it is paying the standard commercial rental rate and chose the venue for its facilities and ability to host a large event.
The Earthshot prize will hold its annual awards ceremony at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre on 17 November.
The venue is part of Reliance Industries, whose businesses include the world’s biggest oil refinery.
Conservationists criticised the choice because of Reliance’s fossil fuel interests and controversy over the family-backed Vantara zoo.
The Earthshot prize said it chose the venue for its facilities and event experience and is paying the standard commercial rental rate.
A Cites committee has asked India for another report on concerns related to imports of protected species and requested a review of 11 cases involving animals sent to Vantara.
- Who
- The Prince of Wales’s Earthshot prize and conservation groups, including WAPFSA.
- What
- The Earthshot prize will hold its annual awards ceremony at the Jio World Convention Centre, drawing criticism from conservationists.
- When
- 17 November; the year is not stated.
- Where
- Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India.
- Why
- The prize said the venue met the practical requirements of the event. Conservationists objected to its ownership by Reliance Industries and concerns about the group’s fossil fuel businesses and Vantara zoo.
Earthshot prize
Conservationists
Venue choice
Earthshot prize
The venue was selected because it allowed the ceremony to be held in Mumbai and had the facilities and experience needed for an event of this size.
Conservationists
The choice risks giving environmental prestige to a corporate group under scrutiny by the conservation community.
Vantara’s role
Earthshot prize
Vantara says it rescues and cares for wild animals and supports the survival of endangered species.
Conservationists
Conservationists have questioned how the zoo acquired its animals and whether its model supports conservation.
Vantara was inaugurated by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, and India’s supreme court cleared the zoo of allegations that animals had been acquired illegally or mistreated.
A Cites fact-finding mission raised concerns about India’s compliance with international rules on animal imports and recommended temporary restrictions, which were later withdrawn.
The Cites committee requested another report from India and asked its secretariat to review 11 cases involving animals sent to Vantara.
The Earthshot prize is due to hold its awards ceremony at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.
- Ceremony date
- 17 November
- Venue
- Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai
- Venue owner
- Reliance Industries
- Earthshot awards
- £1m for each of five annual winners
- Vantara site
- 400 hectares (3,500 acres)
- Cites review
- 11 cases involving animals sent to Vantara
What people are saying
could lend an unearned environmental prestige to a corporate group currently under question by the global conservation community
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
may be driving demand for wild animals in trade