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

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/environmentalists-criticise-choice-of-earthshot-prize-venue-owned-by-fossil-fuel-firm/
- Published: 2026-11-08T06:00:33+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-08T06:35:34+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/nov/08/earthshot-prize-venue-criticism-fossil-fuel-firm-reliance-industries-india-mumbai
- Topics: UK, World

## Key points

- Earthshot will hold its awards in a Reliance-owned Mumbai venue.
- Conservationists cite Reliance’s oil business and Vantara zoo.
- Earthshot says it is paying the standard commercial rate.

## Summary

The Earthshot Prize will hold its annual awards ceremony at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, a venue owned by Reliance Industries. Conservationists say the choice risks giving environmental prestige to a conglomerate associated with fossil fuels and a controversial private zoo.

The ceremony is scheduled for 17 November. Reliance owns the world’s largest oil refinery and supports Vantara, a 400-hectare zoo near the refinery that houses more than 150,000 animals across over 2,000 species. Conservation groups have questioned how the animals were sourced; a Cites committee has asked India for a further report and review of 11 cases. Earthshot says it is paying the standard commercial rental rate and chose the venue for its facilities and capacity.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.