Prince William calls for global action to save oceans

Royal Family Channel

Prince William has delivered a speech at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco, highlighting the urgency of protecting oceans. He called for global action to restore marine health before it's too late.   Report by Etemadil. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

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00:00I'm delighted to introduce our next speaker.

00:03He is a champion of the environment.

00:06He is also the passionate force of nature

00:09behind the Earthshot Prize, which is an initiative

00:11that carries optimism as a core value in the effort

00:15to repair our planet and our ocean.

00:19It's my privilege and honor to welcome

00:21His Royal Highness William, Prince of Wales.

00:30The Vice President of the United States

00:33of the United States of the United States of the United States

00:35of America, the United States of the United States.

00:44Hello.

00:46It's a pleasure to be with you today

00:49to address something important that looks at me.

00:55We come together today, united by our deep connection

00:59the ocean and our concern for its safety. For many of us it is a place where some

01:06of our happiest memories are made, where we've explored the wonders of the

01:11natural world and we have all relied on its great abundance for our food and

01:16livelihoods. And yet all too often it can feel distant and disconnected from our

01:23everyday lives, allowing us to forget just how vital it really is. The truth is

01:31that healthy oceans are essential to all life on earth. They generate half of the

01:36world's oxygen, regulate our climate and provide food for more than 3 billion

01:42people. And today they need our help. Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution

01:50and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems and on the

01:56people and communities who depend most upon them. What once seemed an abundant

02:02resource is diminishing before our eyes. We all stand to be impacted and we are all

02:10responsible for change, both negative and positive. But there remains time to turn

02:18this tide. Together we have signed up to an ambitious global commitment to protect

02:2430% of land and sea by 2030. It is our best chance of reversing the damage done to our

02:31planet and restoring its well-being. But the clock is ticking. 2030 is fast

02:38approaching and only 17% of land and just 3% of the ocean has been fully

02:45protected. If we are to reach our goal, we urgently need to take bold action to

02:53protect and restore our planet. We must realize the potential of the blue economy

02:58for our ecosystems, our economies and our communities. With creativity, ingenuity,

03:07investment and support, we can unlock exciting innovations and solutions that

03:12protect our planet, create jobs, sustain livelihoods and encourage prosperity. This

03:20challenge is like none that we have faced before. But I remain an optimist. I believe

03:26that urgency and optimism have the power to bring about the action needed to change

03:31the course of history. I'm an optimist because as the founder of the Earthshot

03:37Prize, I see the incredible examples of the ideas, innovations and technologies that are

03:44harnessing the power of the ocean whilst protecting its vitality. Individuals,

03:50organisations and businesses from every corner of the world are stepping up to play their part.

03:56And I'm delighted that three of them are here with us today. Take Sam and Gaeta, the founders of Coral Vita,

04:03and 2021 winners of the Earthshot Prize. Their team are pioneering high-tech methods to grow coral up to 50

04:11times faster than in nature and improve their resilience to the impact of climate change.

04:18After winning the Earthshot Prize, they financed a major restoration project off the coast of Grand Bahama,

04:26working with local community experts to grow more than 20,000 corals.

04:30They are now focusing on expanding their fast-growing corals across new geographies, driving tourism to

04:38areas with fresh coral reef. Or Douglas, the founder of My Algae and an Earthshot Prize finalist last year.

04:48His work in the last six months to end reliance on wild-caught fish as a primary source of Omega-3 has saved

04:562.4 million wild fish, recycled enough wastewater to fill 300 Olympic swimming pools, and prevented

05:05vast amounts of CO2 emissions. Just one tonne of their algae produces as much Omega-3 as 620,000 fish.

05:16My algae isn't just alternative nutrition, it's climate technology, it's ocean conservation,

05:22and its sustainable food systems at scale. And Enrique of Pristine Seas, a 2021 Earthshot Prize finalist,

05:32and pioneer in marine protected areas. He is a powerful advocate for the clear scientific benefits of MPAs.

05:41When communities protect marine areas, fish stocks recover, ocean health improves,

05:47and there is an increase in profits for the neighbouring communities.

05:52Pristine Seas has already helped establish 29 of the largest MPAs in the world that cover an area

05:59over twice the size of India. Enrique is also part of the team behind Sir David Attenborough's incredible

06:06new film. It makes the most compelling argument for a media action that I have ever seen.

06:12Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts at the base of our oceans is simply heartbreaking.

06:23For many, it is an urgent wake-up call to just what is going on in our oceans,

06:28but it can no longer be a matter of out of sight, out of mind. The need to act to protect our ocean is now in full view.

06:37As ever, Sir David leaves us with a sense of optimism that all is not lost. He believes change is possible.

06:47Put simply, the ocean is under enormous threat, but it can revive itself. But only if together we act now.

06:56The actions of Earthshot Prize finalists like Enrique, Douglas, Sam and Gaeta are proof that we can collectively

07:07rise to the global challenge of reviving our oceans. The Earthshot Prize is here to demonstrate that

07:14humanity does have the tools needed, but the brilliant minds behind these inspiring solutions

07:20cannot do it alone. They need scaling, they need support and investment to reach their potential.

07:29And they need to be backed by ambitious action on a global, national and local level.

07:36Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions.

07:41Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance.

07:48For the future of our planet, for the future generations, we must listen to the words of Sir David Attenborough.

07:55If we save the sea, we save our world.

07:57Thank you so much, Your Royal Highness. I know that many people I've spoken to in Cape Town are still

08:24buzzing from the Earthshot Prize that took place there just a few months ago.

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