Prince William calls to protect the world’s oceans at finance forum in Monaco
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Prince William Champions Ocean Conservation at Monaco Forum Prince of Wales makes diplomatic waves on World Oceans Day
The Prince of Wales spoke at a forum in Monaco on June 8. He stressed the need to protect the world’s oceans. The event was held on the eve of World Oceans Day, which takes place on June 14. The forum was also attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Prince William made a significant solo appearance in Monaco on June 8, stepping into an increasingly prominent international role with a compelling call to protect the world’s oceans. Speaking at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, held on the eve of World Oceans Day, the Prince of Wales addressed a distinguished audience that included French President Emmanuel Macron, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, and Prince Albert of Monaco.
The forum, hosted at the Grimaldi Forum, marked a pivotal moment in the global environmental calendar as the international community looks ahead to the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. William’s participation underscored his rising stature as a global statesman and environmental leader.
Oceans are not a niche concern; they are a foundation of life, William emphasized in his address. Highlighting that oceans cover 70% of Earth’s surface, generate half of its oxygen, and sustain over 3 billion people, he stressed the urgency of protecting marine ecosystems. Currently, only 3% of the ocean is protected; far from the global target of 30% by 2030.
The Prince’s appearance comes amid King Charles’ ongoing cancer treatment, during which William has increasingly taken on high-profile responsibilities. A dedicated conservationist like his father, William is using his global platform to advance critical environmental causes, with ocean conservation now central to his mission.
His Monaco speech is being viewed as both a powerful statement on marine protection and a signal of his expanding diplomatic role, as the British monarchy continues to evolve in response to global challenges.
UK’s Prince William calls for urgent action to protect oceans
Britain’s Prince William calls on world leaders and businesses to take urgent action to protect the planet’s oceans. William said rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing were putting pressure on fragile ecosystems and the people who depend on them. He spoke ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference, which begins in France on Monday. The conference aims to get more countries to ratify a treaty on protecting ocean biodiversity.
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.
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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.”
(Reporting by Michael Holden;Editing by Helen Popper)
Prince William Urges Action to Save Oceans
Prince William urges global leaders and businesses to urgently address the pressing issues facing the world’s oceans. His remarks come in the lead-up to the U.N. Ocean Conference set to begin in France. William, as the founder of the Earthshot Prize, also released a video discussion with
Speaking at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco, William emphasized that what once appeared to be an inexhaustible resource is now under severe threat. He urged coordinated global efforts to rejuvenate the ocean’s health, stressing action must be taken immediately.
The U.N. conference this week aims to secure more ratifications for a biodiversity protection treaty. William, as the founder of the Earthshot Prize, also released a video discussion with nature broadcaster David Attenborough, discussing the devastating impact humans have had on the deep ocean floor.
(With inputs from agencies.)
‘Think big’ to save the ocean, Prince William says in plea to 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. He 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. 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” 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. Kensington Palace said: “There should be no doubt that The Prince of Wales is calling for action to save our oceans now. The world is watching.” William also met finalists and winners of the ‘innovative solutions that have the potential to reverse the damage caused to the oceans’.
The Prince of Wales speaking to Costa Rica’s President Rodrigo Chaves Robles at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Picture: PA
By Jacob Paul
The Prince of Wales called on world leaders to “think big” to save the ocean, as he gave a speech in Monaco after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron.
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William was speaking at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) on ocean preservation at the Grimaldi Forum in the principality on Sunday.
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.
Read more: Prince William and David Attenborough join forces in call to save world’s oceans
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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.
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The Prince of Wales (third from left) posing for a group photo with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (ninth from left), France’s President Emmanuel Macron (eleventh from left), Prince Albert II of Monaco (twelfth from left). Picture: PA
“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.
Prince William speaks French in address on ocean protection
Prince William spoke in both English and French as he laid out the risk to the world’s oceans. He was speaking at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco.
Prince William spoke in both English and French as he laid out the risk to the world’s oceans at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco on Sunday.
“Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts at the base of our oceans is heartbreaking,” he said at the Grimaldi Forum, named after Monaco’s royal family.
“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’.”