In a bid to reduce his carbon footprint, William flew on a commercial flight ahead of Wednesday’s ceremony, which will mark five years of his environmental initiative. Every year, five finalists are each awarded £1M (which converts to about $1,305,260 USD) to put their plans into practice. Aides have described the awards as William’s legacy project and something that will continue when he becomes king.
In a recent interview with HELLO! Magazine, William said, “As a father, I think constantly about the world my children will inherit. I want them to grow up surrounded by nature, opportunity, and a sense of hope about the future. But I also know that unless we act boldly now, that future is at risk. The Earthshot Prize is about turning the tide, about proving to our children that we are willing to fight for their tomorrow.”
William has the full support of his father, King Charles, who encouraged him to establish the awards as a way to find solutions around the globe to protect and save the planet.
Prince William playing volleyball on Copacabana Beach.Chris Jackson/Getty Images.
On Monday, William took a cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain, where he chatted with Brazilians and posed for selfies. He also visited the Maracanã stadium, where the soccer-loving royal met Brazilian legend Cafu. William and Cafu joined an event for young environmental campaigners, where William spoke about the importance of leadership and told the young people, “You guys are my hope, you’ve got the passion, the ambition, that’s what this needs.”
