LONDON (Reuters) -Prince William told investors, politicians and scientists on Thursday that Indigenous People had a crucial role to play in protecting nature in his latest call for urgent action to tackle the impact of climate change.
The British heir to the throne, who has inherited his father King Charles’ zeal for environmental causes, said efforts to protect nature necessitated giving support to people in local communities around the world.
“Their stewardship and protection are among the most effective forces for conservation,” he told a roundtable event being held at St James’s Palace as part of London Climate Action Week.
“If we are serious about achieving climate and biodiversity goals, Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be central to the effort as partners, leaders, and co-creators of solutions.”
Amongst those in the audience were Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples and British energy minister Ed Miliband, who on Wednesday reiterated Britain’s commitment to decarbonising the economy and stimulating green business growth.
William’s remarks on Thursday follow on from a plea earlier this month to world leaders and businesses to take immediate action to protect the planet’s oceans, saying it was a challenge “like none we have faced before”.
(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Sarah Young)
