The Prince of Wales is understood to be thinking about staging his Earthshot Prize awards next year in the Brazilian city of Belem during the UN Climate Change Conference
Prince William is to play a key role at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil next year.
The Prince of Wales wants to continue the success of his planet saving Earthshot Prize awards, celebrated in Cape Town this week and the first time the environmental project was held in Africa. There is speculation William could stage the awards at the same time world leaders will be in the Brazilian city of Belem on the Amazon delta, which is hosting the global conference in November next year.
The timing could prove vital in William’s desire to expand his growing statesman role, after holding meetings with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and UK foreign secretary David Lammy who was in Cape Town this week. COP organisers will also be hopeful that the King, as a lifelong environmentalist, will attend.
The Prince has spoken previously about wanting to take his environmental awards to every corner of the planet, having previously held the event in London, Boston and Singapore before South Africa this week. William, 42, has previously told of his vision to engage countries such as China and India – two of the world’s biggest polluters – as well as the possibility of finding a host country in South America.
Following the success of the Earthshot Prize in Cape Town, a source close to the Prince of Wales said: “This week, the Prince of Wales visited South Africa to spotlight African innovation and young people, as Earthshot hosted its fourth annual awards in Cape Town. Throughout his trip, the Prince spoke about the importance of not losing sight of what needs to be done between now and 2030 – the Earthshot decade.
“His commitment to restoring the future of the planet is unwavering and the Prince is determined to do all he can to use his platform to spread urgent optimism. Next year, the Climate COP will take place in Brazil and it’s set to be hugely consequential. The Prince of Wales is looking forward to playing a role there.”
It will be the first time the future King has visited the COP event outside of the UK, having appeared alongside the King and the Princess of Wales at the gathering in Glasgow in 2021.
The late Queen Elizabeth II addressed the assembled delegates via a recorded message as part of the reception. William and Kate, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, took part in a number of events over the first days of the COP26 conference in Glasgow, highlighting both the urgent need for action and the individuals and groups who are already working towards a brighter future for our planet.
During the first year of his Earthshot Prize awards, which is handing out £1million prizes to five winners each year for their planet saving ideas over a decade, William also acted as a link for finalists to meet philanthropists to scale their innovative solutions.
