Prince William calls for the protection of the world’s oceans in Monaco

The Prince of Wales described the challenge of protecting the oceans of the world as “as a person we have never faced before”.

In a speech delivered to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco, Prince William said that life at the bottom of the ocean “decreased before our eyes” and called for an ambitious action “worldwide, national and local”.

At the Grimaldi Forum, named after the royal family of Monaco, the prince spoke in English and French when he had what was in danger.

“The truth is that the healthy oceans are essential to all life on earth. They generate half the oxygen in the world, regulate our climate and provide food for more than three billion people,” he said.

The increase in temperatures, pollution and overfishing cause enormous damage to the world’s oceans and the communities that rely on them.

The Forum is before the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, in France, this week, with the events examining the role that the oceans play in world trade, food security and sustainable energy.

In Monaco on Sunday, the Prince spoke to an audience of environmentalists, scientists and investors – many of whom have traveled there to finance ocean protection projects.

Prince William has recognized that investment in ocean work can be a delicate proposal for investors.

“Too often, it can be distant and disconnected from our daily life, allowing us to forget how vital it is,” he said. “We must achieve the potential of the blue economy for our ecosystems, our economies and our communities.”

The prince spoke as founder of the Earthshot Prize, which distributes five prizes of 1 million pounds sterling each year for the best solutions to the biggest climatic challenges.

Several Earthot winners and past finalists were in the audience.

Enric Sala, from the Virgin Mers project of the National Geographic Society, was a finalist in 2021 and was the pioneer of work to protect marine life.

He is also part of the team that produced the new film by Sir David Attent Boirough, Oceans, whom Prince William described as “the most convincing argument for an immediate action that I have ever seen”.

“Watching human activity Reduce beautiful maritime forests to sterile deserts at the base of our oceans is heartbreaking,” said the prince.

“For many, it is an urgent call for alarm clock to what is happening in our oceans. But that can no longer be a question of” out of sight, out of mind “.”

He ended his speech by saying that action was necessary for future generations and quoted Sir David.

“If we save the sea, we save our world.”

The prince interviewed Sir David in the first ocean last month, with the film Described by his producer as “the biggest message (Sir David) has ever said”.

The Kensington Palace described the discourse as a “historic intervention” by Prince William, using its platform to generate changes and make investments to increase oceanic solutions.

In the south of France, the prince met President Chavez of Costa Rica, the French president Macron and Prince Albert of Monaco – a supporter of many ocean projects and a key actor in the forum.

Prince William will also attend a session on closed doors, held privately, with ocean experts and investors.

Additional reports by Adam Hale.