By Phil Noble
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Britain’s Prince William said he hope his multi-million dollar environmental prize would provide some much needed optimism for climate campaigners, saying the future was looking “pretty bleak” without the involvement of young people.
William travelled to South Africa this week for a series of events to promote his Earthshot Prize, with its annual awards ceremony taking place in Cape Town later on Wednesday.
Asked how he could convey his Earthshot message during a tough political climate for environmental causes, he told the BBC: “I think everyone wants some hope and wants some optimism.”
He said the young people of Africa who would attend the awards would show how important the issue was to them.
“Without them, you know, the future is looking pretty bleak,” he said. “So these are the game changers … These are the inventors that are going to make the world a better place for us in the future.”
Set up in 2020, the Earthshot prize was inspired by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s “moonshot” project which led to the 1969 lunar landing and seeks to find innovations to combat climate and other green issues. Five winners receive 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) each to drive their projects.
William has travelled to Africa alone as his wife Kate is still managing a return to work after finishing a course of preventative chemotherapy for cancer, and he said she would be cheering him on from their home in Britain.
“She’s doing really well,” he told the BBC. “She’s been amazing this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success.”
During his four-day trip, William has also been sporting a bracelet bearing the word “Papa” which he said had been given to him by his daughter, Princess Charlotte, 9.
“This is, I think, a relic, if you like, from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided that she wanted to create a bracelet for,” he said. “She gave it to me when I came away. So I promised (to) wear it and try not to lose while I was out here.”
(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Sarah Young)
