Prince William delivers keynote speech at COP30 and pays special tribute to King Charles

Prince William said it was “a privilege” to step into his father’s shoes and give a keynote speech at COP30 today, where he warned climate change is “not a distant threat”. Addressing world leaders at the climate summit in Belem, a Brazilian city described as the gateway to the Amazon, he noted that communities around the world – including in the UK – are already feeling the effects of rising temperatures.

William, who is attending COP on behalf of his father, King Charles, said: “Communities around the world are already facing rising seas, extreme heat, wildfires, floods, droughts and increasing frequency of extreme weather. We saw the disastrous impact of simultaneous floods, fires and droughts in Brazil in 2023. Just this year, I visited the Welsh town of Pontypridd with my wife, Catherine, where the community is still recovering from devastating floods.

Prince William giving his keynote speech at COP30 (Image: Kensington Palace)

Prince William reading through his speech on the plane to Belem (Image: Kensington Palace)

“I met families who lost their homes, their possessions and their sense of security. One resident told me how the river that once brought life to the town had become a source of fear. Their resilience was deeply moving. It was also a powerful reminder that climate change is not a distant threat.

“It is affecting lives across the UK and across the world, from small towns to major cities, from coastal communities to inland regions. No corner of the globe will be unaffected.”

The situation will worsen in the coming decades, but the future King said that by taking action now, we can still limit the worst effects of climate change.

He said: “This is not just a challenge. It is a profound opportunity – an opportunity to build cleaner economies, restore nature and improve the health and wellbeing of communities everywhere.

“It is an opportunity to grow our economies, develop new technologies and create secure and affordable energy systems that are central to our future prosperity and security.

“Action on climate not only protects future generations, but is a powerful engine to create better jobs and lives today, we need to work together to build resilience from the escalated costs of climate change and become nature positive.”

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Prince William arrived in Belém – Brazil, alongside Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)

COP30 marks the first time William has travelled internationally for a COP summit, as he steps in for his father. It is also understood to be the first time the prince has delivered a speech on behalf of his father.

William flew from Rio de Janeiro to Belem with Sir Keir Starmer earlier on Thursday morning aboard the Prime Minister’s Government jet.

The prince, who asked for his father’s input in his speech, paid tribute to the King’s love of nature in his speech. “I grew up with my father, the King, talking about the power of nature and the importance of harmony in the natural world, a subject he has championed for over five decades,” he said.

“It’s a privilege to also represent him here today, as well as everyone else who has championed this cause for so many years.”

Prince William will be attending the COP 30 UN Climate change (Image: Getty)

William travelled to Belem after Wednesday night’s glitzy Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony in Rio, where he hailed the next generation of environmentalists and unveiled this year’s winners of the £1m prize to expand their innovations.

Four young climate activists then joined the prince on stage, as they spoke of their visions for the future, including a world powered by clean energy, where nothing is wasted and the oceans are teeming with life.

Despite the warning shot, William’s five-minute speech struck a largely optimistic tone, as he hailed Earthshot finalists and winners, new and old.

He said, “Their work is the proof we need that progress is possible. Their stories are the inspiration that gives us courage.

“And there’s a great deal we can learn from their determination, their vision for scale and their unyielding belief that we can create a better world. It’s no exaggeration to say that they are the world’s true action heroes.”

The Prince of Wales continues his final leg of his Brazil tour (Image: Getty)

Discussing the 2025 finalists, whom he met earlier on Wednesday at the summit of the Brazilian landmark, Christ the Redeemer, the prince said: “Our finalists are a shining example of how we can build stronger economies, design healthier cities, and create better jobs for the next generation.

“We can support the dreamers and innovators who work tirelessly to build a more sustainable world. We can protect our beautiful planet for all life that calls it home.”

Last night’s ceremony marked the focal point of William’s three-day trip to Rio. Samba dancers and artists from the city’s annual carnival greeted guests before they walked Earthshot’s famed green carpet, given its name because everyone is encouraged to dress sustainably.

Kylie Minogue, Shawn Mendes and Anitta were among the star-studded lineup to pose for photographs on the green carpet before they took to the stage to perform for those seated inside.

The prince chatted to host Luciano Huck before meeting UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who became the first PM to attend the awards ceremony since its launch five years ago, and took their seats to watch the impressive performance.

William was spotted singing along as pop princess Kylie Minogue closed the show with a high-energy medley of her hits Padam, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head and a cover of Celebration by Kool and the Gang.

After the ceremony, he thanked Kylie, Gilberto Gil and Seu Jorge for performing. “Thank you so much, honestly, the whole thing was fantastic,” the Prince told Kylie, commenting on the fact that “everyone was up and dancing!”

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