Prince William told investors, politicians and scientists on Thursday that Indigenous People had a crucial role to play in protecting nature in his latest call for urgent action to tackle the impact of climate change.

The British heir to the throne, who has inherited his father King Charles’ zeal for environmental causes, said efforts to protect nature necessitated giving support to people in local communities around the world. 

‘Their stewardship and protection are among the most effective forces for conservation,’ he told a roundtable event being held at St James’s Palace as part of London Climate Action Week. 

‘If we are serious about achieving climate and biodiversity goals, Indigenous Peoples and local communities must be central to the effort as partners, leaders, and co-creators of solutions.’

Amongst those in the audience were Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples and British energy minister Ed Miliband, who on Wednesday reiterated Britain’s commitment to decarbonising the economy and stimulating green business growth.

William’s remarks on Thursday follow on from a plea earlier this month to world leaders and businesses to take immediate action to protect the planet’s oceans, saying it was a challenge ‘like none we have faced before’.

On Thursday, the royal, 43, headed the high-level roundtable, called Nature’s Guardians: On the Road to COP30 & Beyond, which was aimed at increasing funding for nature protection projects.

The discussion was hosted by The Royal Foundation, of which the Prince is founder, at the London residence.

Prince William (pictured) told investors, politicians and scientists on Thursday that Indigenous People had a crucial role to play in protecting nature in his latest call for urgent action to tackle the impact of climate change 

The father-of-three greeted key attendees André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President, The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change of Brazil.

Also joining were Leaders of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities which brings together all the major indigenous groups from across tropical forest countries. Sônia Guajajara was also present at the roundtable.

Thursday’s outing comes during London Climate Action Week, the largest festival of its kind which is taking place in the capital between 21st and 29th June.

It’s a busy week for William, who has a number of engagements in line with the annual climate festival. 

On Tuesday, he met with finalists for the upcoming Earthshot Prize, due to be hosted in Rio de Janeiro in November.  

Later today, following the roundtable, the Prince will attend the Investing for Impact event. 

Held at Guildhall in London, it will spotlight stories from those involved in the Earthshot Prize, and give opportunity for potential investors to connect with environmental solutions. 

Earlier this week, the Prince said saving the planet  is a ‘team game’ as he called for more united action on the global environmental crisis. 

The British heir to the throne (pictured centre), who has inherited his father King Charles’ zeal for environmental causes, said efforts to protect nature necessitated giving support to people in local communities around the world 

The heir to the throne was joined on Thursday by global leaders, people from indigenous communities and other key players in the fight against climate change 

In his speech, he highlighted the ‘critical role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in protecting nature’

Today’s roundtable comes during London Climate Action Week, the largest festival of its kind which is taking place in the capital between 21st and 29th June

It’s a busy week for William, who has a number of engagements in line with the annual climate festival

The Prince of Wales, as Founder of The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife programme, receives a gift from Kleber Karipuna, Indigenous leader of the Karipuna people from Amapa during a high-level roundtable 

During a discussion panel, he highlighted his ‘optimism’ towards the Earthshot Prize, spotlighting it’s ability to ‘showcase all the brilliant people around who are working in this space to better the planet’.

The prize looks to highlight and reward some of the best and most innovative environmental solutions with £1 million prize pots and world-class mentoring.

Speaking at the Investing for Impact event, the Prince said: ‘What we do here today, together, is of the utmost importance. Collectively, we have signed up to a global commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. This commitment is our best chance of reversing the damage done to our planet and restoring its wellbeing.

‘But 2030 is just five years away, and only 17% of land and just 3% of the ocean has been fully protected. Climate and nature-based solutions are the foundation of long-term security, stability and prosperity. More than half of global GDP depends on nature.

With the natural world in desperate need of protection and restoration, we must back the initiatives that will have the greatest impact. The solutions that regenerate the natural world and offer positive market returns, also boost economic opportunities. 

‘And this is where you all come in. I can say that confidently, as Founder of The Earthshot Prize, I am lucky enough to meet the innovators and changemakers, who are working on the most exciting ideas and initiatives to build a better future for our planet.

‘But they cannot do it alone. Ideas and initiatives need strong backing if they are to scale and realise their incredible potential. And capital, delivered at the right time, in the right way, is the difference between their failure, and their success.The even better news is that these initiatives aren’t just good for our natural world, they are also good long-term investments offering huge potential.

‘The Earthshot Prize Finalists are proof of this. To give just three examples: Earlier this year, 2024 Finalist NatureMetrics successfully raised $25 million in its first Series B funding to develop pioneering biodiversity monitoring tools, and bring them to even more organisations and governments around the world.

‘Only this month, 2021 Winner Coral Vita announced it had closed over $8 million in ‘Series A funding to advance its mission to restore degraded reefs and regenerate ocean health.

‘And just last week 2023 Finalist, Colorifix, reached a first close of a series B2 round of $18 million to transform textile dyeing without petrochemicals. This will take them from pilot production to global, commercial manufacturing.

‘So you see, there are plenty of ground-breaking investment opportunities that are successfully raising capital to expand their impact.

‘Rather than simply accepting the status quo, we need to back many more, if we are to close the gap to 2030. I know that this is not a one-way road. We must understand what investors need for more capital to flow.

‘This is why events like the one here today are so important – to open up new connections between innovation and finance, to build better understanding and stronger partnerships to achieve our goals together.

Today, I ask you not to retreat. Now is the moment to look forward. Look forward to investments that hedge against climate risk and provide a pathway to innovation, profit and resilience. This is a huge, untapped opportunity – and one I’m passionate and excited about. Let’s make what we do here today, together, really count.’