Prince William spoke about the futures of his three young children as he marked the midpoint of his 2030 climate activism commitment.
The 43-year-old royal shared a brief video on Instagram on Saturday, October 4, ahead of the eagerly awaited Earthshot Prize gala in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, scheduled for November 5. In the footage, he was seated beneath the same oak tree near his Windsor residence, where he first unveiled a 10-year climate initiative in 2020.
“Now is the time to heal our planet more than ever,” he expressed to his viewers.
He continued, “I was here under this oak tree five years ago, shortly after launching The Earthshot Prize. Scientists made it clear that our planet, our only home, requires our urgent assistance, and we must implement substantial changes by 2030.”
Reflecting on how 2030 once felt like a distant time, he emphasized its impending reality for his children. (Prince William and Kate Middleton have three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.)
“When George was 7, Charlotte was 5, and Louis was just 2, imagining them in 2030 seemed like an eternity. But now, as we approach the midpoint of this crucial decade, 2030 feels imminent,” he admitted. “The Earthshot Prize exists because this decade is vital. 2030 marks a benchmark for future generations to evaluate our legacy; it is when our decisions will have shaped the planet’s future indefinitely.”
The Earthshot initiative was inspired by former President John F. Kennedy’s ambitious “Moonshot” program aimed at landing an astronaut on the moon in the 1960s. Their focus has now shifted towards climate action, granting awards in the categories of: “Clean Our Air,” “Fix Our Climate,” “Revive Our Oceans,” “Build a Waste-Free World,” and “Protect and Restore Nature.”
Prince William expressed how the remarkable stories of this year’s 15 Earthshot Prize finalists have personally moved him.
Prince William with Prince Louis, Princess Catherine, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George in June 2023. Chris Jackson/Getty Images
“It is impossible not to be uplifted by the inspiring tales of these finalists, their essences radiating hope and progress,” he remarked on Saturday. “For me, this spirit of urgent optimism has been the driving force behind this Prize from the outset. It truly feels unstoppable.
He added, “The individuals leading these projects are the heroes of our current era; let’s support them. If we commit to this, we can create a world that is cleaner and safer, brimming with possibilities—not just for those who will come after us but for our present lives as well.”
This year’s Earthshot Prize gala in Rio will be the fifth continent to host the event since the initiative’s inception in 2020. The decision to hold the event there coincides with the upcoming 2025 UN Climate Change Conference, which will occur in BelĂ©m, Brazil, from November 10-21, an event Prince William is also anticipated to attend, according to People.
“Earthshot was initiated as we find ourselves at a juncture of profound importance. This decade offers a ten-year window of opportunity where our actions will profoundly influence life on Earth for countless generations to follow,” said Earthshot CEO Jason Knauf in a statement.
Knauf, 43, continued, “The Earthshot Prize was also established because Prince William believes that this decade can narrate a remarkable success for humanity. With urgency and optimism, we can make this time matter. Now, as we reach the halfway point of our mission, our work feels more crucial than ever.”
Knauf concluded, “We believe the solutions to these challenges already exist, and it’s our job to highlight, honor, and support them. Today, we are doing precisely that by showcasing 15 groundbreaking finalists along with the remarkable 60 who came before them, demonstrating what is achievable.”
Additionally, Prince William has been in the news recently for addressing his relationship with his brother Prince Harry amid their ongoing tensions. In a segment of Eugene Levy’s Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler, Prince William remarked on their upbringing while drawing parallels with his son George’s anticipated future as king.
“I genuinely wish to foster a world that my son can take pride in—a world and a role that positively impacts lives,” Prince William articulated. “This aspiration is coupled with my hope that we don’t revert to the detrimental practices from the past that Harry and I had to endure—I will go to great lengths to prevent such a regression.”
Levy, 78, was later asked by ITV News whether there were any limitations on discussing Harry during the interview.
“I wasn’t instructed not to ask anything, but diving into that subject was never my goal as it’s sensitive and not my place to do so,” the comedian clarified. “I thought there were far more engaging topics to explore that would be fascinating for him and the audience alike, so I opted to avoid that terrain.”
