Prince William Urges Leaders to Act with 'Urgency and Purpose' in Climate Crisis

The Prince of Wales hosted a roundtable of politicians and Indigenous people from around the world on June 26

NEED TO KNOW

• Prince William convened a high-level meeting to highlight the work Indigenous people do in safe-guarding wildlife and climate
• The meeting was part of his activities during London's Climate Action Week
• William welcomed Indigenous peoples' leaders and political figures to the roundtable

On Thursday, June 26, the Prince of Wales convened a high-level meeting to discuss the crucial work Indigenous people do in protecting the climate and wildlife and the perilous work of being a ranger protecting endangered species around the world.

Bringing together government leaders, philanthropic institutions, representatives from Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the meeting was led by his United for Wildlife coalition at St. James’s Palace in London.

As he met some of the Indigenous people attending the roundtable, he was given a tiger necklace. Among those taking part were André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, the President of COP30, a climate change conference William plans to attend in Brazil later this year. British Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband and Sonia Guajajara, The Minister of Indigenous Peoples for Brazil, also attended.

Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace Prince William meets Sonia Guajajara, a Brazilian Indigenous activist and leader at St. James Palace on June 26.

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Her involvement was timely as Guajajara appears in the last episode of William’s series short films, Guardians, which will be released on Friday June 27 and highlights the work on the Caru Indigenous Territory in the Brazilian Amazon.

“Sonia’s incredible work features in the final episode of our Guardians series which premieres tonight — a powerful story that speaks directly to the themes we are addressing today,” William said as he opened the talks.

William, 43, told the roundtable, “All life begins with nature. Our forests, rivers, and the ocean are not just landscapes, they are the foundation of life on Earth. They regulate our climate, provide food and water, and sustain economies worldwide.”

“We are here today not only to recognize this truth, but to act on it with urgency and purpose.”

“Across the world, Indigenous peoples and local communities live in deep relationship with land and sea, guided by knowledge passed down through generations. Nature is not seen as a resource to be extracted, but as something sacred - to live with, respect, and sustain. Their stewardship and protection are among the most effective forces for conservation.”

He added, “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.”

He said that “momentum is growing,” and added, “I’ve invited you here because of our shared goals and the opportunity we have, together, to build a coalition that delivers. This is a moment for courage. We are not starting from zero.”

“Let us move forward - united in purpose and committed to protecting nature as the foundation for a just and healthy future for all.”

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The meeting at St. James's Palace came as part of London’s Climate Action Week, in which William and his Earthshot Prize and United for Wildlife organizations are taking a leading role.

United for Wildlife was set up by the Prince and his Royal Foundation to coordinate the fight against the illegal trade in endangered wildlife and animal parts.

Earlier in the week, William took part in a discussion hosted by wildlife conservationist and broadcaster Robert Irwin, in London. He said that his Earthshot Prize — his 10-year project to champion great environmental ideas — has “evolved over time, even to the point we were talking today, we’re still evolving.”

“So the concept of scaling, if you like — highlighting, spotlighting these incredible people and solutions — is still evolving as we go through the decade of change," the royal, 43, said. "And for those of you who don't know — by 2030, the Earthshot Prize in its current guise will cease to exist. We very much want to make sure this is a decade of change.”

For his part, Irwin says that the prince has also been evolving with the prize. “I will say, I've noticed that Prince William has been adding more tools to the tool belt," he told PEOPLE on June 24. "He’s finding new ways, new people, new collaborations to inspire greater change.”

“His sense of resolve, his sense of determination is unwavering. But he's approaching this in a new way every year. And you have to do that. The landscape is constantly changing and he's constantly adapting to that."