Prince William has revealed that a key motivation of his Earthshot Prize is the aim to create a better world for his three children.
The Prince of Wales launched his £50million initiative in 2020 with the aim of finding 50 solutions to the biggest climate change issues.
The prize is heading to South America for the first time as the 43-year-old will reveal the winner in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of the event, he revealed to Hello: “As a father, I think constantly about the world my children will inherit. I want them to grow up surrounded by nature, opportunity and a sense of hope about the future.
Prince William has revealed he wants to fight for the future of the earth for his three children
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“But I also know that unless we act boldly now, that future is at risk. The Earthshot Prize is about turning the tide, about proving to our children that we are willing to fight for their tomorrow.
“Urgent optimism is the heartbeat of The Earthshot Prize.
“It’s the belief that although the challenges we face are immense, the solutions are within reach and we must act with speed and conviction to bring them to life. It’s not blind hope.
“It’s hope backed by evidence, by ingenuity and by the courage of those who refuse to give up on our planet.”
William is father to Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, Prince Louis, seven.
The event has previously taken place in the UK, the US, Singapore, and South Africa, and this week’s trip to Rio will mark the first time the future King has made an official visit to South America.
He continued: “I feel deeply honoured to be heading to Brazil, a country of extraordinary natural beauty and cultural vibrancy.
The Earthshot Prize is currently halfway through the decade long project
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“Rio, with its energy, its people and its iconic landscapes, feels like the perfect place to celebrate the power of environmental innovation.”
“This region is home to some of the world’s most vital ecosystems and some of its most passionate environmental defenders.
“By hosting the prize in Brazil, we’re shining a light on the solutions emerging from this part of the world and drawing global attention to the urgency and opportunity of climate action.”
This year marks the midway point of the decade-long Earthshot Prize, with the previous winners having already raised more than £380m for funding and protecting a million hectares of land and ocean, to bring animals back from the risk of extinction.
Chief executive of The Earthshot Prize, Jason Knauf, believes the Prince of Wales founded the prize because: “This decade is critical – it is a window in which we still have time to act – and because Prince William believes that it can be a great human success story. That, with urgency and optimism, we can make these years count.
“He’s very happy to roll up his sleeves, get on the phone or travel to meetings; he’s always thinking about how he can help create new opportunities for our finalists. He enjoys supporting their leadership and their ideas.
Jason Knauf praised Prince William for his attitude towards The Earthshot Prize
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“He is really, really focused on how we can all do more. He will congratulate our finalists for what they’re achieving and help them be even more ambitious. He knows we have to do more.
“Because of what the science requires and what our finalists want to do, he’s never going to be satisfied until they get close to achieving their goals. Especially at this halfway point, it’s clear to us that we have to make a big impact.”
Prince William begins his work in Brazil on Monday as he gears up for the award ceremony on Wednesday.