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Perth Now
an hour ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Prince William warns of 'heartbreaking' situation with the world's oceans
Prince William has warned that oceans have been reduced to "barren deserts" by humans. The Prince of Wales delivered the keynote speech at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco on Sunday (08.06.25) and warned his audience - which included Prince Albert of Monaco, France's president Emmanuel Macron, and Costa Rican leader Rodrigo Chaves Robles - there is a crisis which can no longer be dismissed as "out of sight, out of mind". William declared the situation to be "simply heartbreaking" and called for action so "change the course of history" by saving the world's oceans, though he noted "the clock is ticking" on a global commitment to protect 30 per cent of land and sea by the end of the decade, noting just 3% of the ocean is fully protects. He said: 'Put simply: the ocean is under enormous threat, but it can revive itself. 'But, only if together, we act now... 'This challenge is like none that we have faced before." He quoted Sir David Attenborough and said: 'If we save the sea, we save our world'. William called for "urgency and optimism" to tackle the issue. He said: 'I believe that urgency and optimism have the power to bring about the action needed to change the course of history,' he said. 'With creativity, ingenuity, investment and support, we can unlock exciting innovations and solutions that protect our planet, create jobs, sustain livelihoods and encourage prosperity... 'Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts at the base of our oceans is heartbreaking. 'For many, it is an urgent wake-up call to just what is going on in our oceans. But it can no longer be a matter of 'out of sight, out of mind.'' William declared that looking after the oceans was an 'incredibly important issue' held 'dear to my heart', but warned many forget just how "vital" the seas of the world are. He said at the Grimaldi Forum conference hall: "We come together today united by our deep connection to the ocean and our concern for its safety. For many of us, it is a place where some of our happiest memories are made… where we have explored the wonders of the natural world… and we have all relied on its great abundance for our food and livelihoods. "And yet, all too often, it can feel distant and disconnected from our everyday lives, allowing us to forget just how vital it is. The truth is that healthy oceans are essential to all life on earth. "They generate half of the world's oxygen, regulate our climate and provide food for more than three billion people. 'And today, they need our help. 'Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems… and on the people and communities who depend upon them. 'What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes. We all stand to be impacted. And we are all responsible for change – both negative and positive.' William met delegates from the Earthshot Prize before addressing those gathered for the forum, which was held in honour of World Oceans Day. And after helping Sir David launch his new film 'Ocean', the prince - who has Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis with wife Catherine, Princess of Wales- admitted he was "very emotional" after seeing the documentary. He told Enric Sala, a marine ecologist who had worked on the film: 'I was very emotional after watching it. I got angry then I got sad then I got frustrated then I got happy – every single range of emotions. 'It was really powerful. I'm working out how to show my children as well.'
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Prince William sounds alarm on oceans: 'Diminishing before our eyes'
Prince William sounds alarm on oceans: 'Diminishing before our eyes' Prince William on Sunday called on world leaders and businesses to take urgent action to protect the planet's oceans, saying it was a challenge "like none we have faced before." Speaking ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference, which begins in France on Monday, William said rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing were putting pressure on fragile ecosystems and the people who depend on them. "What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes," William, heir to the British throne, told the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco. "Put simply: the ocean is under enormous threat, but it can revive itself. But, only if together, we act now," he told the meeting of investors and policymakers. Princess Charlotte is 10! She looks just like Prince William in new birthday photo taken by Princess Kate This week's U.N. conference aims to get more countries to ratify a treaty on protecting ocean biodiversity, which currently lacks sufficient signatories to come into force. William addressed Sunday's gathering in his role as founder of the Earthshot Prize, launched by the prince in 2020 with the aim of making huge strides to tackle environmental problems within a decade. On Saturday, William's office released a video of him talking to David Attenborough, one of the world's best-known nature broadcasters, about his latest documentary "Ocean," which examines the plight of the seas. "The thing which I am appalled by, when I first saw the shots that were taken for this film, are what we have done to the deep ocean floor," Attenborough told him. "If you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms."
West Australian
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Prince William calls for action to protect oceans
Prince William has called on world leaders and businesses to take urgent action to protect the planet's oceans, saying it was a challenge "like none we have faced before". Speaking ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which begins in France on Monday, William said rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing were putting pressure on fragile ecosystems and the people who depend on them. "What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes," William, heir to the British throne, told the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco. "Put simply: the ocean is under enormous threat but it can revive itself. But, only if together, we act now," he told the meeting of investors and policy makers. This week's UN conference aims to get more countries to ratify a treaty on protecting ocean biodiversity which currently lacks sufficient signatories to come into force. William addressed Sunday's gathering in his role as founder of the Earthshot Prize, launched by the prince in 2020 with the aim of making huge strides to tackle environmental problems within a decade. On Saturday, William's office released a video of him talking to David Attenborough, one of the world's best-known nature broadcasters, about his latest documentary Ocean which examines the plight of the seas. "The thing which I am appalled by, when I first saw the shots that were taken for this film are what we have done to the deep ocean floor," Attenborough told him. "If you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms."
North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Think big' to save the ocean, William tells world leaders
William was speaking at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) on ocean preservation at the Grimaldi Forum in the principality on Sunday. The prince, whose opening and closing remarks were in French, said those attending the forum were 'united by our deep connection to the ocean and our concern for its safety'. William, wearing a navy suit with a recycled sustainable tie from Wilmok, said the 'clock is ticking' to meet the target agreed at the UN Biodiversity Summit in 2022 aiming to protect at least 30% of the world's land and sea by 2030. World leaders were greeted by a blue carpet as they arrived at the event, with William meeting French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves Robles. Giving a speech at the heads of state and government session on the final day of the forum, William said: 'Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems and on the people and communities who depend most upon them. 'What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes. 'We all stand to be impacted. And we are all responsible for change – both negative and positive. But there remains time to turn this tide.' Speaking to an auditorium of 1,800 people, the prince added: 'Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts at the base of our oceans is simply heartbreaking. 'For many, it is an urgent wake up call to just what is going on in our oceans. But it can no longer be a matter of 'out of sight, out of mind'. 'Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions. 'Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance. 'For the future of our planet, for the future generations, we must listen to the words of Sir David Attenborough: 'If we save the sea, we save our world'.' William was recorded in conversation with Sir David at the Royal Festival Hall in May, with the veteran broadcaster saying he hopes his new film Ocean, released on Sunday, will galvanise society into action 'before we destroy this great treasure.' In their meeting, the future king chatted with his natural history hero about their shared optimism for future discoveries in the planet's seas, despite the threats they face. With a shared passion for protecting the natural world, the prince and the veteran broadcaster have supported each other in their missions to tackle some of the biggest environmental challenges the planet faces. In his Monaco speech, William said Sir David's film 'makes the most compelling argument for immediate action I have ever seen'. A Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'There should be no doubt that this speech is The Prince of Wales calling for action to save our oceans now. The world is watching. 'This is him using his platform to call for more to be done sooner rather than later.' As he arrived at the forum, a journalist shouted to the Prince asking whether he was excited to go to Brazil, to which William replied: 'Yes'. William also met finalists, winners and partners of the Earthshot Prize – a global environmental award of which he is founder and president. Kensington Palace said the finalists and winners had showcased 'innovative solutions that have the potential to reverse the damage caused to the oceans and that can preserve it for future generations'. William met Sam Teicher from Coral Vita, a 2021 winner, which works to restore coral reefs by growing coral on land to replant in oceans and Jennifer Koepke from WildAid, a 2023 winner, which scales marine enforcement to end illegal fishing and strengthen ocean conservation. William also met 2022 finalist Nick Wilson, whose entry was the Great Bubble Barrier, which works to prevent plastic pollution by intercepting waste before it reaches the ocean, and 2024 finalist Nicholas Hill from Coast 4C, which connects investment in coastal agriculture with conservation through the farming of regenerative seaweed. Each year five winners are awarded the Earthshot Prize from a shortlist of 15. The BEFF is organised by the government of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, with support from France and Costa Rica. The forum is a UN Ocean Conference special event and aims to contribute to the implementation of sustainable development goal 14 to 'conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development'. France is hosting the UN Ocean Conference from June 9 to June 13 in nearby Nice. The King is due to host Mr Macron on a state visit by the French leader and his wife Brigitte Macron from July 8-10. The French president will stay at Windsor Castle and be hosted at a state banquet at the historic Berkshire royal residence during his stay.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Prince William calls for action to protect oceans
Prince William has called on world leaders and businesses to take urgent action to protect the planet's oceans, saying it was a challenge "like none we have faced before". Speaking ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which begins in France on Monday, William said rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing were putting pressure on fragile ecosystems and the people who depend on them. "What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes," William, heir to the British throne, told the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco. "Put simply: the ocean is under enormous threat but it can revive itself. But, only if together, we act now," he told the meeting of investors and policy makers. This week's UN conference aims to get more countries to ratify a treaty on protecting ocean biodiversity which currently lacks sufficient signatories to come into force. William addressed Sunday's gathering in his role as founder of the Earthshot Prize, launched by the prince in 2020 with the aim of making huge strides to tackle environmental problems within a decade. On Saturday, William's office released a video of him talking to David Attenborough, one of the world's best-known nature broadcasters, about his latest documentary Ocean which examines the plight of the seas. "The thing which I am appalled by, when I first saw the shots that were taken for this film are what we have done to the deep ocean floor," Attenborough told him. "If you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms."
