LONDON:Britain's Prince William launched a multi-million-pound environmental prize on Thursday, teaming up with celebrities including footballer Dani Alves and Alibaba founder Jack Ma to launch a prize aimed at tackling the world's climate problems.
With the high-profile project, William, the Queen's grandson who is second-in-line to the throne, opened up a new chapter in the royal family's decades-long environmental campaigning.
The Earthshot Prize will award five one-million-pound ($1.29-million) prizes each year for the next 10 years under the categories of protecting and restoring nature, cleaner air, reviving oceans, waste-reduction and climate change.
William has recruited a dozen global celebrities to join the Earthshot Prize Council to decide the winners.
As well as Brazilian footballer Alves and Chinese entrepreneur Ma, they include British naturalist David Attenborough, Queen Rania of Jordan, Australian actor Cate Blanchett, Colombian singer Shakira and former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres.
William's grandfather, Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip, and his father Prince Charles have both spoken for decades about the importance of conservation and the impact of climate change, years before such ideas became mainstream.
William told BBC Radio it was now his responsibility to take on that baton because the world was at a tipping point and he owed it to his children and grandchildren to leave the world in a better condition.
While he had often wondered what his father was "banging on about" he realised now it had been a very hard sell "to predict and see some of the slow-moving catastrophes that we were headed towards".
"This is a generational baton-handling, my grandfather started it, my father has picked it up and really accelerated that and I feel right now that it's my responsibility, I really feel that we are at a tipping point," he said.
Speaking alongside Attenborough, William said change was critical in the next decade.
"By 2030 we really hope to have made huge strides in fixing some of the biggest problems the Earth faces," William, 38, said.
"I think that urgency with optimism really creates action. And so the Earthshot Prize is really about harnessing that optimism and that urgency to find solutions to some of the world’s greatest environmental problems."
Nominations open on Nov. 1 ahead of the first awards ceremony in the autumn next year.
Kensington Palace said the prize drew inspiration from U.S. President John F. Kennedy's Moonshot, which it said had been synonymous with ambitious and ground-breaking goals since the 1969 moon landing.
Further members of the Earthshot Prize Council will be announced in the coming months.
Reuters
Thu Oct 08 2020
Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, speaks during a visit to the Garden House in Peterborough, Britain, July 16, 2020. Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via REUTERS
Indonesia kecewakan China, raih kejuaraan badminton berpasukan campuran remaja dunia
Indonesia menewaskan China untuk muncul Juara Badminton Berpasukan Campuran Remaja Dunia dengan kemenangan 110-103 (mata terkumpul).
Bomba selamatkan tiga subkontrakor terkandas di kren pengangkat
Ketiga-tiga mangsa lelaki itu masing-masing berusia 24, 26 dan 32 tahun terkandas dengan anggaran ketinggian dua tingkat.
Hulu Perak daerah terbaharu dilanda banjir kilat
Banjir kilat berlaku disebabkan hujan lebat berterusan selama dua jam di sekitar Gerik.
Kejayaan pembangunan Sabah jadi kayu ukur pada PRN, PRU16 - Rafizi
Rafizi berkata kerjasama antara parti adalah perkara yang terus dibincangkan dalam kerangka semangat Kerajaan Perpaduan.
88 badan pensijilan halal luar negara dapat pengiktirafan JAKIM
Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) telah memberikan pengiktirafan kepada 88 badan pensijilan halal luar negara setakat Mei tahun ini.
eWarga Emas bentuk sistem penyampaian perkhidmatan berkesan, bersepadu - Noraini
Portal sistem warga emas (eWarga Emas) dibangunkan bagi membentuk sistem penyampaian perkhidmatan warga emas yang berkesan dan bersepadu.
MITRA lulus lebih RM95 juta untuk 11 program masyarakat India
Kesemua program yang dalam pelaksanaan itu memberi tumpuan kepada usaha memperkasakan sosioekonomi komuniti India dalam negara.
Kestabilan sosiopolitik Sabah bolehkan agihan ekonomi saksama - Juhar
Smber daya, kekayaan alam semula jadi dan potensi ekonomi dalam masyarakat dapat dibahagi dengan cara memberi peluang sama kepada rakyat.
Kenanga jangka OPR stabil 3.0 peratus pada 2025
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd menjangka Kadar Dasar Semalaman (OPR) kekal stabil pada 3.0 peratus sepanjang 2025.
Johor sasar jumlah ternakan cecah 200,000 ekor pada 2027
Johor menyasarkan jumlah ternakan di negeri ini mencapai hingga 200,000 ekor pada 2027 setelah berjaya mencapai jumlah pengeluaran ternakan sebanyak 152,000 ekor hingga bulan lepas.
Pandangan tajam Putera Philip buatkan saya 'takut' - Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz
Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah kongsi pengalaman bersemuka dengan mendiang Putera Philip.
Putera William dilapor positif COVID-19, namun dirahsiakan
Istana Kensington masih belum memberi sebarang komen setakat ini.
Jimmy Choo kagum sikap rendah diri Puteri Diana
Pemilik jenama kasut mewah, Datuk Jimmy Choo mendedahkan Puteri Diana selalu membantu mengangkat suitcase miliknya setiap kali berkunjung ke Istana Kensington.
Putera Harry dan Meghan Markle sambut kelahiran anak lelaki
Anak pertama kepada Putera Harry dan isteri, Meghan Markle bakal menjadi ketujuh dalam barisan untuk mewarisi takhta.
Comel! Putera George muncul dalam setem edisi khas ulang tahun Ratu Elizabeth
Setem edisi khas sempena ulang tahun Ratu Elizabeth ke-90 menampilkan empat generasi ahli keluarga diraja Britain.
Kate bergaya cantik selepas bersalin, 'biar betul?' - Netizen
Rakyat Malaysia turut membicarakan rupa paras Kate Middleton yang begitu cantik hanya selepas beberapa jam melahirkan anak
#RoyalBaby: Rakyat Malaysia kongsi gembira bersama pasangan William dan Kate
Kate Middleton selamat melahirkan anak kedua iaitu bayi perempuan seberat 3.7 kilogram (8lbs 3oz) di hospital Lindo Wing.
Gambar Putera George berjalan sempena ulang tahun yang pertama
Putera George bakal menyambut ulang tahun pertamanya bersama ahli keluarga dan rakan-rakan terdekat di Istana Kensington.
Kate hadiri upacara terakhir sebelum bersalin
Isteri Putera William, Catherine pada Sabtu, menghadiri upacara rasmi hari lahir Ratu Elizabeth II yang ke 87, iaitu acara terakhirnya sebelum melahirkan anak.