Prince William Urges World Leaders at UN for Key Cause Hours After Prince Harry’s Appearance
Prince William is making an urgent appeal on behalf of his children and generations to come.
Late on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Prince of Wales, 42, appeared via video link to talk to heads of state at the United Nations.
It came just hours after his brother Prince Harry, 40, had visited the UN for a meeting with the Clinton Global Initiative.
In his virtual address, William, said world leaders have a duty to halt the loss of vital natural habitats and preserve biodiversity across the globe.
He warned that “one million species face extinction,” and added that there was a need to stick to the commitment to “reverse biodiversity loss by 2030” and other promises made in Montreal, Canada in 2022.
“We now have just five years to deliver on our collective promise,” he said at the meeting on biodiversity that took place at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The event was hosted by The Campaign for Nature (CfN) — a global campaign working to safeguard at least 30% of the world’s lands and oceans by 2030.
Opening the event, which is taking place during climate week in New York City, William called the destruction of “these precious ecosystems” the “most pressing existential threat we face.”
“If we are to keep this planet liveable for our children and grandchildren, we must act urgently,” he continued.
His intervention was made as his passion project The Earthshot Prize announced its latest cohort of finalists. The winners, who will receive $1.3 million to scale up their projects to help repair the planet, will be announced in Cape Town, on Nov. 6. Three of the finalists come from the U.S.
William is also heavily involved with United for Wildlife, which makes crucial interventions to help secure the future of endangered animals from poaching and habitat loss.
“We must act to save our rivers, oceans, savannas, mangroves and forests, as well as the communities that protect and live alongside them,” William said on Tuesday.
Earlier he began his speech by saying that on his travels across the world, he had been “incredibly fortunate to have visited many places around our planet and witnessed the diversity of life and of species.”
“Time and again, I have been humbled by the Earth’s extraordinary beauty and its resilience,” he added.
“But, the truth is, we are living at odds with the natural world, and it is buckling under the pressure of our actions.”
“The global loss of unique natural areas poses a grave threat to our climate, our clean air, our drinking water, and our health.”
The prince concluded by underlining his work with United for Wildlife and The Earthshot Prize, “where we aim to nurture, accelerate and scale ground-breaking innovations that will repair and regenerate the planet whilst driving prosperity for all.”
“I believe that if leaders worldwide commit to work together, accept that change is no longer a choice but an imperative, and join with businesses, communities, innovators and citizens to take bold, perhaps challenging and creative steps, we can meet our commitments to each other and the future generations,” William said.
“We are all in this together.”
William’s speech came as his wife Princess Kate, 42, hosted a meeting at Windsor Castle for her annual carol service at Westminster Abbey in December. It is the latest stage in her gradual return to work since she ended her chemotherapy treatment.
