Prince William Reflects on His Three Children’s Futures Ahead of 2030 Climate Commitment

Prince William highlighted his three young children’s futures to commemorate the halfway point of his commitment to climate crisis activism by 2030.

The 43-year-old royal posted a brief video on Instagram on Saturday, October 4, leading up to his upcoming Earthshot Prize gala, scheduled for November 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the clip, he is seen sitting beneath the same oak tree at his Windsor residence where he first unveiled a decade-long climate initiative in 2020.

“Now, more than ever, we need to take action to restore our planet,” he urged viewers.

Prince William explained, “Five years ago, I sat under this oak tree, shortly after we launched The Earthshot Prize. Scientists made it clear that our planet, our only home, needed significant changes by 2030.”

Reflecting on the impending deadline, he acknowledged that 2030, once perceived as a distant future, is now very much within sight for his children. (William and Kate Middleton are parents to Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.)

“When George was 7, Charlotte was 5, and Louis was 2, thinking about 2030 felt like an eternity. However, as we reach the midpoint of this crucial decade, it feels immediate,” he remarked. “The Earthshot Prize was created because this decade is vital. [Now] 2030 is a pivotal point that future generations will assess us by; it is when our actions, or inaction, will have permanently influenced our planet’s path.”

The charitable initiative, named after former President John F. Kennedy’s “Moonshot” endeavor to land an astronaut on the moon in the 1960s, now pivot to address climate change, awarding prizes annually in categories like “Clean Our Air,” “Fix Our Climate,” “Revive Our Oceans,” “Build a Waste-Free World,” and “Protect and Restore Nature.”

Prince William shared how he has been personally inspired by the remarkable stories of this year’s 15 Earthshot finalists.

“Listening to these finalists’ stories and witnessing their impactful actions is truly uplifting,” he stated on Saturday. “For me, this urgent optimism has been at the very core of this Prize since its inception. And it feels unstoppable.”

He continued, “The individuals behind these initiatives are the heroes of our time, and it’s crucial we support them. Because, if we do, we can create a cleaner, safer world full of opportunities—not just for future generations, but also for our current lives.”

This year’s Earthshot Prize gala in Rio will be the fifth continent to host the event since the initiative’s launch in 2020. Rio was selected in connection with the upcoming 2025 UN Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10-21, an event that William is also anticipated to attend, as reported by People.

“Earthshot was established to address a decisive moment. It’s a ten-year window where our current actions will define life on Earth for generations,” stated Earthshot CEO Jason Knauf.

Knauf went on to say, “Prince William believes this decade can turn into a remarkable success story for humanity. With urgency and optimism, we can make these years truly count. As we reach the midpoint of our mission, our work has never felt more critical.”

“We are motivated by the belief that solutions already exist; we only need to recognize, celebrate, and support them. That is exactly what we are doing today,” the Earthshot executive concluded. “The 15 finalists we’re about to reveal, alongside the incredible 60 before them, are demonstrating what is possible.”

Simultaneously, Prince William has recently gained attention for discussing his relationship with his brother, Prince Harry, amid their ongoing rift. While appearing on Eugene Levy’s Apple TV+ show, The Reluctant Traveler, he noted the contrasts between his upbringing and the future prospects for his son George as king.

“I want to foster a world in which my son is proud of our actions—a world and a role that truly enhances people’s lives,” Prince William explained. “However, I hope we don’t revert to some past practices that Harry and I had to endure—I will do everything in my power to prevent that.”

Levy, 78, was later questioned by ITV News regarding any limitations on discussing Harry during the royal interview.

“I was not instructed to avoid any questions, but it wasn’t really my place to delve into that,” the comedian remarked. “I found it more interesting to guide the conversation towards other topics that might be engaging for both him and the audience.”