Latest news with #TheEarthshotPrize
ITV News
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
'They need our help': Prince William issues urgent call to protect world's oceans
Watch Prince William's speech in full as he called for the world to "act together with urgency" to "save our world" The Prince of Wales today called for the world to 'act together with urgency' to protect the oceans because 'If we save the sea, we save our world'. Prince William delivered a keynote speech at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco on World Oceans Day to an audience including President Macron of France, President Lula da Silva of Brazil, President Chavez of Costa Rica and Prince Albert of Monaco. He said: 'The truth is that healthy oceans are essential to all life on earth. They generate half of the world's oxygen, regulate our climate and provide food for more than 3 billion people. 'And today, they need our help. 'Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems…and on the people and communities who depend most upon them. 'What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes. We all stand to be impacted. And we are all responsible for change – both negative and positive. 'But there remains time to turn this tide.' The event is bringing together business leaders, government representatives, multilateral institutions and stakeholders committed to restoring the health of the oceans. The future King is attending the forum in his role as founder of The Earthshot Prize, which was launched in 2020 to recognise and scale up ideas to help protect the planet. The competition, which annually awards five finalists with £1 million to develop their ideas, will be held in Brazil later this year as it reaches its halfway point. Prince William said: 'The Earthshot Prize is here to demonstrate that humanity does have the tools needed. But the brilliant minds behind these inspiring solutions cannot do it alone. 'They need scaling, support and investment to reach their potential. And they need to be backed by ambitious action on a global, national and local level. 'Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions. 'Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance. "For the future of our planet. For the future generations. We must listen to the words of Sir David Attenborough: 'If we save the sea, we save our world.' The Prince met Earthshot Prize finalists and winners ahead of delivering his speech, including Enric Sala from Pristine Seas who was involved in the new film 'Ocean with David Attenborough'. Speaking about the film, Prince William said: 'I was very emotional after watching it. I got angry, then I got sad, then I got frustrated, then I got happy – every single range of emotions. 'It was really powerful. I'm working out how to show my children as well.' Prince William, who opened and closed his speech in French, told the forum: 'Enric is also part of the team behind Sir David Attenborough's incredible new film. It makes the most compelling argument for immediate action that I have ever seen. 'Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to baron deserts at the base of our oceans is simply heartbreaking. 'For many, it is an urgent wake up call to just what is going on in our oceans. But 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. 'As ever, Sir David leaves us with a sense optimism that all is not lost. He believes change is possible. 'Put simply: the ocean is under enormous threat, but it can revive itself. But, only if together, we act now." A new film was released on Saturday of Prince William in conversation with Sir David Attenborough discussing the new documentary which has become available for streaming globally today, to coincide with World Oceans Day.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
David Attenborough tells Prince William he was appalled to see what humanity has done to the ocean
David Attenborough has described the human impact on the deep ocean floor as 'unspeakably awful' in a conversation with Prince William to mark the launch of the veteran broadcaster's latest documentary. In a video filmed at London's Royal Festival Hall in early May and posted to Kensington Palace's social media channels Saturday, the biologist and natural historian reflected on the scale of human damage inflicted beneath the surface – much of it, he said, invisible to the public eye. 'The awful thing is that it's hidden from most people,' Attenborough said. 'What we have done to the deep ocean floor is just unspeakably awful. If you did anything remotely like it on land, everybody would be up in arms.' The pioneering naturalist added that he was 'appalled' when he 'first saw the shots taken for this film' that showed the state of the ocean floor. The feature-length documentary 'Ocean with David Attenborough' explores 'how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery' and 'why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.' The film will be available to stream online from Sunday, which is World Oceans Day. 'If this film does anything, if it just shifts public awareness, it will be very, very important,' Attenborough said. 'I can only hope that people who see it will recognize that something must be done before we destroy this great treasure.' The 99-year-old broadcaster told William that it is 'heartening' to have an 'entree to people's front rooms.' 'Whole families sitting at home in comfort can actually suddenly see this coming up. Films like this can expose something new,' he said. William, reflecting on the ocean's unexplored frontiers, said the idea that there may be oceanic regions no human has ever seen was 'fascinating.' He asked Attenborough whether that possibility still exists. 'Beyond question,' the naturalist replied. 'We're in the situation now when, in fact, it is possible to go into places where nothing like you has ever been there before.' The Prince of Wales added that the opportunity for discovery offers 'a really optimistic excitement sort of moment for the next generation to be able to be bigger explorers.' A champion of the environment for over a decade, William has repeatedly cited Attenborough as an 'inspiration' throughout the years, most recently in connection with his 'Guardians' docuseries, which focuses on the work of wildlife protection rangers. In 2020, the pair launched The Earthshot Prize – an ambitious environmental initiative that seeks to offer green solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges, including ocean protection. The prize awards £1 million (about $1.2 million) annually to five winners. Organizers hope that by 2030, at least 50 pioneering environmental solutions will have been funded. 'Ocean' builds on Attenborough's years of collaboration with marine scientists working to explore and document the deep sea. Its release comes amid concerns over threats such as deep-sea mining, biodiversity decline, and the vulnerability of ocean ecosystems to climate change. The documentary also arrives just ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference taking place later this month in Nice, France. Member states have agreed in principle to protect 30% of the world's oceans, but progress has been slow. In 'Ocean,' Attenborough calls for more urgency. CNN's Nell Lewis contributed to this report.
Perth Now
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Robert Irwin gushes over getting the chance to work with Prince William: 'He's a great guy...'
Robert Irwin loved getting the chance to work with Prince William. The 21-year-old conservationist - who is the is the son of late 'Crocodile Hunter' star Steve Irwin - recently teamed up with the heir to the British throne after he was was named a Global Ambassador for the Prince of Wales' Earthshot Prize and thinks that is a " great privilege" to be given such a "fantastic platform" to spread his message. He told UsWeekly: "I think Prince William has been such an amazing person to work with, and there is such an incredible synergy between what he does and who he is and who we are. "It's all about conservation. "'I think it's wonderful that someone so influential — that has such a fantastic platform — is using that to really better our environment. He is a true environmental hero, and so working with him has been a great privilege." The 'Crikey! It's The Irwins' star insisted that everyone in the world needs to "prioritize" the environment as he insisted that William , 42, is "at the forefront" of that movement. He said: "We've definitely compared a lot of notes in the conservation space. "It doesn't matter where you're from — whether internationally in Australia, here in America, wherever you are — we need to prioritize taking care of our natural world. And he's really at the forefront of that. "And plus, he's just a great guy. When you have a conversation with him, he's the most lovely, intelligent person to talk to and is just so easygoing, so much fun. And I love working with him. He's a really, really, really good guy.' The 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant had previously participated in The Earthshot Prize ceremony in Singapore, and at the time, he gushed about how the initiative was so important when it comes to having "hope" for the environment. He said: "The Earthshot Prize is a beacon of hope for all of us who care about the environment and about our ability to ensure a livable future for ourselves and future generations. "Healthy oceans, ecosystems, and species equal a healthy planet, and The Earthshot Prize recognizes the importance of investing in and helping grow solutions that protect these critical resources.'."
Euronews
01-06-2025
- Business
- Euronews
These UK scientists are ‘growing colour' using nature's DNA codes
From the vivid red of a parrot's feather to the dreamy blues and purples of Indigo plants, nature is a riot of colour. It has a spectrum to satisfy even the most fashion-forward of humans, so what if there were a way to naturally copy all of these hues? That's precisely what UK-based company Colorifix is working on: a fabric-dyeing process that uses the DNA codes for colours found in nature and teaches microbes to recreate them. Founders Orr Yarkoni and Jim Ajioka were motivated by a research trip to Nepal in 2013, where they saw the toxic impact of chemically synthesised dyes on Kathmandu's rivers. A decade later, Colorfix won recognition as a 2023 finalist for The Earthshot Prize - the global environmental award created by Britain's Prince William. We caught up with the company to find out more about the waste-cutting solution and what they've achieved since stepping into the global spotlight. Before the 19th century, fabric dyes were derived from natural plants and crops, and colourful clothing was considered a luxury. Colorifix is 'bringing the fashion industry back to its roots', in the words of CEO Yarkoni - but with a 21st century set of tools to unlock new pigments. It begins by identifying an interesting colour created naturally by an animal, plant or microbe. By searching public databases, scientists find the 'instructions' for making that colour in the organism's DNA code. They then insert that code into bioengineered microbes like yeast, which are fed with sugar and nitrogen in bioreactors, similar to the way beer is brewed. Over time, these 'microscopic colour factories' can create hundreds to thousands of litres of dye. Finally, the contents of the fermentor are pumped into standard dye machines along with the yarn, fabric, or garment to be dyed. 'Support from The Earthshot Prize not only validates the impact of our solution but also connects us with the network needed for this crucial next phase,' says Andreas Andren, head of business development at Colorifix. Finalists - there are 15 each year, across five categories - join the Prize's 12-month accelerator programme, which includes connections to investors and help to overcome hurdles. 'Biotech is great, but overall expensive to run and scale,' explains Andren. 'Part of the innovation we had to put into play was hardware to make biotechnology scaling competitive with commodity chemical manufacturing. 'Having to solve that problem on top of developing our core technology - the actual dyeing - was definitely the biggest challenge.' Colorfix's solution makes for an interesting intellectual property (IP) case. Patenting organisms that have been recreated using DNA technology is tricky, so the company has instead patented its process of producing, depositing and fixing dye on fabric. 'To reap all the benefits of our technology, such as flexibility and cost parity, a dye house will need to install our proprietary bioreactors on-site,' Andren says. Is the company coming up against incumbents in the industry? 'We are getting more attention from synthetic chemical manufacturers,' he says. 'Some good, some not so good; but the fact that they are starting to pay attention is definitely a sign we are on the right track.' Colorifix has operational capacity in Europe and South America - spread out across several manufacturers - and is aiming to be operational in South Asia within a year. It has partnered with fashion brands like Pangaia and Vollebak to bring products dyed with its technology to market and start increasing demand for sustainable dyes throughout the supply chain. There are other 'big names in the pipeline,' says Andren - but the company is keeping its cards close to its chest for now. The same goes for the new colours it is cooking up. However, he reveals, they successfully dyed greens and oranges during the first part of the year. And the team are extending their application to new materials, including Spiber, made of spider silk protein, and Circulose, an alternative cellulose pulp. New colours will join Colorifix's primary palette of three pigments: one detected in Indigo plants; another, Blushing Rose, made by underwater bacteria; and a third bacteria-born pigment found in soil and deep-sea sediments, named Sunlit Sand. Colouring our clothes with these natural dyes would represent huge progress for an industry that is currently polluting and colouring nature - like Tanzania's Msimbazi River - with chemicals. Colorifix's natural dyes cut chemical pollution by 80 per cent and, when applied to fabrics, they require far fewer rinses than synthetic dyes, ultimately saving vast quantities of water. Tajikistan is home to nearly 14,000 glaciers, but more than a thousand have already disappeared. The country has the largest number of glaciers in Central Asia and sits at the epicentre of regional glacier melt. As the impact grows, Tajikistan is leading the call for action and bringing the issue to the global stage. On the side-lines of the first high-level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon proposed launching a major study of the country's glaciers and creating a regional research lab. He also suggested focusing research efforts on the Vanch Yakh Glacier, formerly known as Fedchenko. It is the world's largest continental glacier and has already retreated by more than one kilometre over the past 80 years. "Considering the fact that more than 60% of the region's glaciers are located in Tajikistan, I propose, in collaboration with development partners and research institutes, to organise a comprehensive expedition to study the glaciers of Tajikistan and establish a regional laboratory for glacier research," the president said. The International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation gathered more than 2,000 people from more than 80 countries. Among the high-profile guests were UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Iran's First Vice President Mohammed Reza Arif, Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shabaz Sharif and other international leaders. The event marks an important step toward putting the UN's 2025 International Year of Glacier Preservation into action.
Glasgow Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
William pays tribute to rangers protecting snow leopards in wildlife series
William's comments are made in an on-screen introduction for the latest episode of his new wildlife documentary series, Guardians, highlighting the work of rangers across the globe. The future king says: 'Snow leopards are such beautiful creatures, known as the Ghosts of the Himalayas, and just having sight of one is so rare that it feels incredibly special. Snow leopards like these animals, pictured in a UK zoo, are coming into conflict with humans in the xxxxxx. Chris Ison/PA 'These elusive, big cats may be rarely seen, but they share a deep connection with local people, and as the snow leopards' natural food sources have become scarce, they have ventured closer to human settlements in search of prey, killing livestock and leading to conflicts with local communities. 'In this episode, we meet Kalzang — a ranger bridging the space between tradition and progress. 'His work protects these animals, powers scientific discovery, and helps turn fear into understanding – while guiding a new generation towards sustainable coexistence.' Veteran broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough is William's 'inspiration' for the six-part series he hopes will help nature's wardens be 'valued, respected, seen' and promote the 'wonderful' regions they protect. William has cited Sir David Attenborough as the inspiration for his series about wildlife rangers (Kensington Palace/The Earthshot Prize) Ranger Kalzang Gurmet and his team working in the Indian Himalayas are featured in the episode called the Guardians of the Spiti Valley and seen trekking in the mountains. Mr Gurmet, field manager for Nature Conservation Foundation, said: 'In the context of conserving wild animals, it's said in our stories that wild animals are the jewel of the forest. 'So, for this reason, conservationists are essential. Ultimately, it will benefit us and our region.'
