Prince William Calls for Faster Action to Tackle Global Climate Challenges

Prince William has warned that the world must move faster to address major climate and environmental challenges, calling on businesses, investors and political leaders to help expand solutions that are already showing results.

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, the Prince of Wales said there was an urgent need for greater action to repair the planet and respond to climate change.

“We’re not moving fast enough,” Prince William said. “We need more businesses, investors and leaders to step up, back what works and help bring these solutions to scale.”

His comments came as the 2026 finalists for the Earthshot Prize were unveiled. The environmental award, founded by Prince William in 2020, aims to identify and support practical solutions to some of the world’s biggest environmental problems. The 2026 awards will be held in Mumbai, India, in November.

Earthshot remains one of the main priorities of Prince William’s public work, with the prize designed to support environmental projects and help successful solutions reach a larger global audience.

“Around the world, people are proving every day that we can restore nature and tackle climate challenges. Our 2026 finalists are an incredible example of that,” William said.

Among this year’s 15 finalists is the entire city of Barcelona, which has been recognised for its work to protect its Mediterranean coastline. The city’s approach has been praised for transforming a heavily used urban coastline into an example of climate adaptation.

Bhutan has also been selected, with the Himalayan kingdom recognised for placing environmental protection at the centre of its national identity and constitution. The initiative highlights the role of the country’s forests in protecting water resources across the wider region.

The finalists also include community-led projects addressing a range of environmental challenges, including waste reduction, nature restoration and clean energy.

Among them are Indigenous ranger teams in Australia and an artificial intelligence-powered wildfire detection and alert system from Argentina.

India, which will host the awards ceremony, has also produced two of the finalists. They include Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, a major manufacturer of electric three-wheelers, and the Mahila Housing Trust, a grassroots organisation working on climate resilience among low-income women.

The Earthshot Prize is organised around five categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Revive Our Oceans, Clean Our Air, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate. Five winners will be announced at the November ceremony, with each receiving £1 million to help expand their work.

The prize’s official programme says finalists receive tailored support and opportunities to connect with investors and other organisations that can help them develop and scale their solutions.

Prince William said the focus now needed to be on expanding solutions that have already demonstrated their potential.

“The solutions are here. The challenge now is scale,” he told the BBC. “The progress is real. Now we need to accelerate it. That’s exactly why The Earthshot Prize exists.”

The Earthshot Prize Council includes Prince William alongside figures such as Queen Rania of Jordan, actress Cate Blanchett and chef José Andrés. The council is responsible for selecting the five annual winners.

The 2026 ceremony will mark the sixth edition of the Earthshot Prize and will bring environmental, business and philanthropic leaders together in Mumbai. The organisation says the event is intended to help accelerate investment and collaboration around solutions capable of repairing and restoring the planet.

Prince William’s comments came during a busy period for the British royal family. He and the Princess of Wales were visiting the Isle of Bute, where they focused on environmental and community initiatives.

The Prince has continued with public duties amid renewed attention surrounding comments and allegations involving members of the wider royal family.

Neither Prince William nor his brother, Prince Harry, has publicly commented on the latest family controversy. Harry was also due to visit a school in the Midlands to discuss how stories of wounded military personnel can inspire young people through his Invictus Foundation work.

For Prince William, the latest Earthshot message puts the emphasis on continuing public and environmental work despite the surrounding attention on the royal family.