Prince William Condemns Illegal Deforestation During Brazil Trip, Highlights Environmental Agenda
RIO DE JANEIRO - Prince William directly addressed the issue of illegal deforestation in the Amazon rainforest during his visit to Brazil, underscoring his commitment to environmental protection adn the urgency of tackling climate change. The prince’s trip culminates with an appearance at the COP30 summit in Belem, marking his first solo international engagement at a COP conference.
During a visit to Paqueta Island, Prince William engaged with local residents and participated in a tree-planting initiative in a mangrove area. He then travels to Rio de Janeiro for the Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony, set to be held at the Museum of Tomorrow on Wednesday evening, where five environmental innovators will each recieve a £1 million prize.
The Prince’s visit is especially critically important as it represents the most considerable royal engagement of the year and the first official visit as issues surrounding his uncle, Prince Andrew, came to light. His father, King Charles III, previously attended COP summits, and Prince William accompanied him to the Glasgow summit in 2021, shortly after the inaugural Earthshot Prize.
Paqueta’s mayor, Rodrigo Toledo, emphasized the importance of the Prince’s visit, stating the island is “totally dedicated to environmental protection and we know that Prince William has dedicated his life to this agenda.” Local resident Glaucia Martinez, a retired lawyer, shared her conversation with the Prince, saying, “I said that its safe, it’s charming, and it’s a good place to live…People here, they are good, good people, you know, honest people.” She also expressed her admiration for the Princess of Wales, telling the Prince, “And I said that I love Kate.”
The Earthshot Prize, now at its halfway point of a ten-year commitment, will recognize projects including Guangzhou’s electric public transport network and Lagos Fashion Week’s enduring fashion initiatives. The prize annually awards £1m grants in five categories for projects focused on repairing the planet’s climate.
