The Duke of Cambridge is following in the footsteps of his father Prince Charles and grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh in campaigning for environmental causes, including an urgent response to climate change.
On New Year’s Eve, he announced the Earthshot prize, which will award people with the best ideas for combatting the climate change emergency in the next decade, with five recipients each year until 2031. People, communities and businesses can be rewarded with the accolade by finding ways to tackle problems in energy sources, nature and biodiversity, the oceans, air pollution and fresh water.
‘Either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve,’ he said. ‘Remember the awe-inspiring civilisations that we have built, the life-saving technology we have created, the fact that we have put a man on the moon. People can achieve great things.’
The Earthshot prize was inspired by former US President John F. Kennedy’s Moonshot programme of the 1960s, which aimed to put a man on the moon before the end of the decade in 1961.
It has been backed by Sir David Attenborough, who said: ‘The next 10 years present us with one of our greatest tests – a decade of action to repair the Earth. The spirit of the Moonshot can guide us today as we confront the serious challenges we face on Earth. This year Prince William and a global alliance launch the most prestigious environment prize in history ... designed to motivate and inspire a new generation of thinkers, leaders and dreamers to think differently.’