Prince calls for courage in tackling climate crisis

THE Prince of Wales has called for global “courage, cooperation and unwavering commitment” to tackle the climate crisis in a landmark speech delivered to Cop30.

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William addressed world leaders and delegates gathered in the Amazon and urged them to see the “tough” road ahead as an opportunity to “grow our economies, develop new technologies and create secure and affordable energy systems”.

With Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer among the guests, he praised as “visionary” a Brazilian-led fund for rainforests - seen as key to the UN Cop30 climate summit but which the British Government has said it will not invest in.

The UK had been considering support for the Tropical Forest Forever Facility but will not commit public money as Rachel Reeves grapples with balancing the books ahead of the Budget this month.

William also spoke about being “deeply moved” by the resilience of Welsh residents he met earlier this year, with wife Kate, whose lives have been blighted by flooding.

The speech was the prince's highest profile public address to date, speaking on behalf of the Government and King, and it was shared in advance with Charles, who has taken a keen interest in his son’s environmental work.

The future King told Cop30, convened in the city of Belem in the heart of the Amazon: “We must ask ourselves, what legacy do we wish to leave?