The Prince of Wales will attend next year’s COP climate conference in Brazil, it has been confirmed, as he pushes to “use his platform to spread urgent optimism” around the environmental debate.
It follows Prince William’s week-long trip to South Africa where he celebrated the fourth year of his annual Earthshot prize.
He launched the environmental awards in 2021 to try and counter the pessimism around climate crisis discussions.
Now he wants to take that message to the high-level UN climate conference – due to take place in Belem next November.
A royal source said: “Throughout his trip (to South Africa) the prince spoke about the importance of not losing sight of what needs to be done between now and 2030 – the Earthshot decade.
“His commitment to restoring the future of the planet is unwavering and the prince is determined to do all he can to use his platform to spread urgent optimism.
“Next year, the climate COP will take place in Brazil, and it’s set to be hugely consequential. The Prince of Wales is looking forward to playing a role there.”
Photos taken behind the scenes at Earthshot week show a more statesmanlike side of the prince.
In some, he’s seen wearing bio-degradable trainers and vintage jackets bought from markets, signs of his intention to do diplomacy his way, with an emphasis on reaching out to future young leaders.
The week reinforced how seriously William now takes his role in terms of his significant convening power.
His decision to attend COP can potentially be seen as a sign of his desire to take on an even greater diplomatic role in the environmental sphere.
So far his Earthshot Prize has been held in the UK, the USA, Singapore and Cape Town.
The location for next year’s awards hasn’t been revealed yet, but the prince has spoken previously about wanting to take them to every corner of the planet and mentioned China, India and South America.
It’s understood that Prince William’s decision to fly to Brazil won’t necessarily be in place of the King, who has delivered keynote speeches at a number of COP conferences, and is viewed as a global leader in environmental matters.
But the King’s attendance would be at the foreign office’s request, and under the advice of doctors following his cancer treatment.
Both Prince William and Prince Charles attended COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.
The urgent need to protect the environment is a topic on which father and son are very much aligned.
This weekend they will be seen alongside each other and other family members, including the Princess of Wales, for Remembrance Events.
On Thursday, William described how proud he was of his wife and father after what has been a “brutal” year.