Prince William has received an enthusiastic endorsement from one of the organisations hoping to win his Earthshot Prize. Bijal Brahmbhatt, director and managing trustee of the Mahila Housing Trust, described William as a "thought leader" whose efforts are helping bring greater attention to climate solutions.
The organisation is among the finalists in the 'Fix Our Climate' category of this year's Earthshot Prize and is working to protect low-income women from the effects of extreme heat. Speaking to PEOPLE, she praised the Prince's approach to environmental issues and the impact his initiative has had in bringing organisations and potential partners together.
"One of the taglines of the Earthshot Prize is urgent optimism, and you know I do believe that the urgent optimism that the prince has sort of generated is also being turned into transformative action, and within a short timeline, and that was what the world needed," she said.
She added: "[We] must congratulate him for sort of being the thought leader in the space that we have been working in for [so] long." The Mahila Housing Trust has spent more than three decades working with women from low-income communities. Brahmbhatt explained that the organisation initially focused on supporting women's economic independence and reducing poverty, before recognising how increasingly extreme temperatures were affecting their ability to earn a living.
In 2015, the team began looking more closely at the impact of climate change on the communities it supported. Many women living in informal settlements work from home, often under tin-sheet roofs that trap heat and leave their houses even hotter than the air outside.
Poor ventilation makes conditions particularly difficult, affecting both their health and their ability to work. Brahmbhatt said the organisation found that homes could become almost 42 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the outside temperature.
The financial consequences are equally serious. According to the director, the women supported by the charity earn an average of around $1,000 a year, yet extreme heat can cost them almost 23 per cent of their annual income.
She explained that these losses make it even harder for women to escape poverty, prompting the organisation to focus on practical ways to make their homes and livelihoods more resilient to rising temperatures. The charity's selection as an Earthshot Prize finalist has already brought significant attention to its work, something Brahmbhatt described as "absolutely amazing".
Brahmbhatt believes William's backing could help bring governments and private companies into the conversation, creating opportunities to expand solutions for vulnerable communities. "The fact that [Prince William] is behind it will enable a lot more government and private sector attention to the space," she said.
She is now looking ahead to the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Mumbai on 17 November, where the organisation will be among those hoping to see their work recognised. Brahmbhatt also hopes the event will encourage more Indian philanthropists to invest in environmental solutions, pointing to the country's growing reputation for innovation.