The British royal family has long been a supporter of sustainability. At various events and charities, they have voiced concerns over climate change and the need for a greener world. Among their many initiatives is Prince William’s recent contribution to the 2021 Conservation International Gala.
On April 3, 2021, Conservation International presented its first-ever Global Gala. Hosted by Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba, the virtual event was a huge hit. But its main highlight was Prince William’s video message which urged people to tackle climate change head-on.
Let’s take a look at Prince Willliam’s encouraging words.
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Uncovering Prince William’s message
Prince William believes in the power of humanity. He said that humans own an exceptional capacity to set targets and achieve them and cited the development of the COVID-19 vaccine as proof of this remarkable potential.
He added that the time isn’t far when our children start pushing us to tackle environmental challenges better. Furthering his point, he stated that if we don’t act decisively in the next ten years, we might cause irreversible damage to our environment.
And the irony is that this damage won’t be felt equally by everyone. People who possess the least resources and have barely contributed to climate change would be the most affected.
William requested that when it comes to protecting the environment, we should be keeping aside our differences and come forward with ideas that can bring about real change. He viewed the cause as a global team effort and said that its success depends on everyone’s cooperation.
The Duke of Cambridge urged businesses, communities, governments, and all individuals to unite for the mutual goal of repairing the Earth and hoped that people would join this mission irrespective of their backgrounds and beliefs.
Prince William’s Earthshot Prize
First introduced on December 31, 2019, the Earthshot Prize is an initiative by Prince William and The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot, the Earthshot Award aims to restore the environment by focusing on finding evidence-based solutions to our planet’s environmental problems.
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How would the Earthshot Prize work?
From 2021 to 2030, every year, the Earthshot Prize Council will honor five winners for providing workable solutions to each of the five Earthshots:
- Fix the climate
- Clean the air
- Protect and restore nature
- Revive the oceans
- Build a waste-free world
Candidates and their solutions will undergo a five-staged selection process designed in collaboration with the Centre for Public Impact and several other international experts. After the screening, the panel will pick fifteen finalists, from which five candidates will receive a prize per Earthshot. Along with due recognition, the winners will get prize money of approximately $1.3 million each.
