The Duke of Cambridge has announced a ‘decade of action to repair our planet' - giving his backing to the launch of the multi-million pound Earthshot Prize, a new environmental initiative.
The announcement was made this morning via a short video that appeared on the Kensington Palace social accounts, voiced by Sir David Attenborough, to mark the launch of what was dubbed the ‘most prestigious environment prize in history'.
The Duke and Duchess had already teased their ‘first announcement of 2020’, with a tweet yesterday urging their 1.9 million followers to ‘stay tuned', followed by a globe emoji.
The new prize will encourage entrants to come up with solutions to tackle problems involving the climate, energy, nature, biodiversity, air pollution and clean water. Different cities around the world are expected to host the award ceremony every year, with five winners announced annually for the next decade.
In statement via the couple's social accounts, William issued a warning about the state of planet. 'The earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: 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.'
To launch the prize, Kensington Palace's accounts featured a previously unseen picture of the Duke. The shot of William against the backdrop of the majestic Hindu Jush mountain is believed to have been taken by Kate during their tour of Pakistan earlier this year.
William has previously spoken about his concern for the environment and has been an avid campaigner for wildlife conservation in Africa. Both he and his brother Harry have championed environmental causes alongside their father, the Prince of Wales, who has historically been an advocate for the environment.
In 2019 Harry suggested that he and his wife Meghan would have just two children maximum, as he voiced his concerns over the earth’s depleting resources. However, the couple have also sparked controversy over their carbon footprint after their use of private jets was revealed.
Today’s announcement by the Cambridges will be read as a mark of their commitment to make the next decade one of action and activism in this area.
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