Prince William’s Upcoming Visit to New York: A Focus on Climate Action

Next month, Prince William is gearing up for a significant visit to New York, marking his first trip to the United States since his brother Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated there.

Scheduled for September 21, William's journey revolves around the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, a precursor to the prestigious awards ceremony set to take place in Boston this December.

This solo trip will see William attending the summit without his wife, Kate, and he will be joined by previous winners from his ambitious £50 million Global Environmental Competition.

The Earthshot Prize aims to identify and promote innovative solutions to some of the planet's most pressing environmental challenges, and this summit is expected to be a major event during NYC Climate Week, coinciding with the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

The upcoming awards ceremony will be the second of its kind, following the inaugural event held last year at Alexandra Palace in London.

Given the ongoing tensions between William and Harry, it seems unlikely that the Duke of Cambridge will venture from the East Coast to the West Coast to reconnect with his brother during this trip.

Moreover, the brothers are not anticipated to meet during the Sussexes' brief visit to the UK earlier in September.

This visit holds special significance as it marks William's first return to America since Harry and Meghan decided to step back from their royal duties and settle in California in early 2020.

The Earthshot team is collaborating with Bloomberg Philanthropy to co-host the summit, which aims to amplify the message of urgency surrounding climate action.

During the summit, William is expected to deliver a keynote address, engaging with last year's winners, finalists, members of the Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Network, and various global leaders and philanthropists.

The overarching goal is to accelerate efforts to restore the planet and tackle climate change head-on.

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who serves as the UN Secretary-General's special envoy on climate ambition and solutions, emphasized the need for immediate and ambitious actions from all sectors.

As world leaders prepare to converge in New York, Bloomberg's team is working alongside Prince William and Earthshot to highlight innovative climate solutions that can be rapidly implemented.

Hannah Jones, the chief executive of Earthshot, shared her enthusiasm for the event, stating that it will foster discussions on collective action and investment in transformative innovations.

The summit aims to unite some of the brightest minds to turn “urgent optimism” into tangible results for the environment.

The Earthshot Prize itself is inspired by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy's Moonshot initiative, which sought to land a man on the moon and advance scientific achievements.

This ambitious spirit is reflected in the prize's mission to discover and scale groundbreaking solutions for environmental restoration.

At the inaugural award ceremony in October 2021, notable figures like Emma Watson, adorned in a gown crafted from ten wedding dresses sourced from Oxfam, and Dame Emma Thompson graced the green carpet.

The competition recognizes innovative projects across five categories, including Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.

Among the winners were remarkable initiatives focused on restoring coral reefs, redistributing surplus food to those in need, and addressing air pollution issues in India.

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, along with the City of Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu, will serve as host partners for the upcoming Earthshot Prize ceremony.