“We need to make an effort to avoid Politics and stick to the facts.”
When we use our brains to fight global warming, events like COP30 happen.
“Remember…We benefit from the fight against global warming because the fight is for clean water, clean air, and clean land.”
There are people from the U.S. that will attending COP30 in Brazil and we would like to recognize them…
• Gina McCarthy — Managing Co-Chair of the coalition America Is All In; will be part of the U.S. delegation of >100 local leaders. americaisallin.com+2U.S. Climate Alliance+2
• Kate Gallego — Mayor of Phoenix, Chair of Climate Mayors, Vice Chair of C40 Cities; part of the delegation. americaisallin.com+1
• Tony Evers — Governor of Wisconsin; Co-Chair of U.S. Climate Alliance; will participate. U.S. Climate Alliance+1
• Michelle Lujan Grisham — Governor of New Mexico; will be part of the U.S. delegation and is scheduled to participate at COP30 (in Belém) and the Local Leaders Forum. Governor Lujan Grisham+1
• Experts / advisors: Todd Stern, Trigg Talley, Genevieve Maricle — serving in advisory roles for the U.S. delegation. americaisallin.com+1
• The U.S. delegation is composed of more than 100 state and local leaders (governors, mayors, city & state officials) from 26 states, coordinated by America Is All In, Climate Mayors, and the U.S. Climate Alliance. U.S. Climate Alliance+2TAG24+2
• The focus is on sub-national actors (states and cities) rather than federal representation, since the White House has confirmed no “high level” U.S. officials will attend. brazilnews.net+2edition.mv+2
Full Transcript: HRH The Prince of Wales COP30 Speech
“We come together today here in the heart of the Amazon at a pivotal moment in human history a moment that demands courage, cooperation, and unwavering commitment to our planet’s future. A future that belongs not to us, but to our children and grandchildren.
I want to first express my profound gratitude to Brazil for welcoming us all to Belém. Over the last week, I’ve seen first-hand that your global commitment to environmental progress is not new: it is built on decades of bold action, visionary thinking, and shared purpose.
From the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, to Brazil rapidly becoming a leader in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, you have shown the world what climate ambition looks like.
Just earlier this week, the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro hosted the Earthshot Prize, a global initiative I founded to accelerate and spotlight the most innovative solutions to our planet’s greatest environmental challenges. Many of these solutions are born in the Global South.
The event was not only a celebration of ingenuity and hope, but a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we lead with vision and courage. It was inspiring to witness bold ideas from people all over the world come to life in a place so deeply committed to sustainability.
And so as we gather here in Belém, 10 years on from the Paris Agreement, we are reminded of the extraordinary power of nations, communities, and individuals coming together to drive change. When we unite behind shared purpose, we can scale and accelerate solutions that transcend borders: solutions that give us hope and fill us with optimism for the future.
I have long believed in the power of urgent optimism, the conviction that even in the face of daunting challenges, we have the ingenuity and determination to make a difference, and to do so now.
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. It is a privilege to represent him here today, as well as everyone who has championed this cause for so many years.
All of us here understand that we are edging dangerously close to the Earth’s critical tipping points, thresholds beyond which the natural systems we depend on may begin to unravel. The melting of polar ice, the loss of the Amazon, the disruption of ocean currents:these are not distant threats. They are fast approaching and will affect every one of us, no matter where we live.
“All of us here understand that we are edging dangerously close to the Earth’s critical tipping points: thresholds beyond which the natural systems we depend on may begin to unravel.
The melting of polar ice, the loss of the Amazon, the disruption of ocean currents: these are not distant threats. They are fast approaching and will affect every one of us, no matter where we live.”
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. I met families who had 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.
These impacts pose risks to growth, security, and wellbeing in all countries. But we know that these risks often fall hardest on those who contributed least to the crisis. This demands urgent, coordinated action.
We must ask ourselves: what legacy do we wish to leave? Because the impact of our choices today will be felt by families everywhere: in the safety of their homes, the stability of their livelihoods, and the health of the natural world that sustains us all.
The road ahead will be tough. We must transform the way we power our lives, produce our goods, travel, and care for our land.
But 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. 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: it is a powerful engine to create better jobs and better lives today.
We need to work together to build resilience from the escalating costs of climate change and become nature-positive. This means incentivising protection and restoration, not destruction. It means recognising nature’s true value, not only in economic terms, but in its ability to sustain life, culture, and community.
As we stand together in the heart of the Amazon: a region vital to global climate stability and home to Indigenous communities who have safeguarded these forests for generations, we are reminded that true climate leadership means listening to those who have lived in harmony with nature and empowering them as stewards of the planet’s most precious ecosystems.
At London Climate Action Week, I convened governments, philanthropists, and Indigenous leaders to issue a call to action for land tenure and forest finance pledges to be delivered here at COP30. That call continued through New York Climate Week and brings us here to Belém, where we must listen to the voices and leadership of Indigenous peoples and local communities who care for half of the world’s land and a third of its remaining intact forests.
Their territories are vital for climate mitigation and biodiversity preservation — yet only 11% of this land is legally recognised. Where Indigenous and local communities have secured land rights, deforestation is lower, biodiversity is richer, and carbon is better stored. Yet nearly 800 million hectares of their land remain unrecognised.
Tenure security empowers communities to resist harmful projects and pursue sustainable livelihoods. This is not just a moral imperative: it is a practical climate solution.
Let us build a future where Indigenous peoples and local communities are recognised as global climate leaders, where their rights are protected, their voices heard, and their knowledge respected as vital to the health of our planet.
“Let us build a future where Indigenous peoples and local communities are recognised as global climate leaders, where their rights are protected, their voices heard, and their knowledge respected as vital to the health of our planet.”
It is important also to acknowledge the progress we have made. From the Paris Agreement to the Global Biodiversity Framework, we have shown that this can be a unifying agenda. When nations come together, we can chart a course toward a cleaner, fairer future. And the United Kingdom stands with you in this mission.
At COP26, the commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030: signed by over 140 countries, was a historic alignment of global will and has already exceeded its target. Since then, the global goal on adaptation has been agreed, and the fund for responding to loss and damage has been operationalised so resources can begin flowing to communities hit hardest by climate impacts.
The COP26 Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Forest Tenure Pledge has already exceeded its target of $1.7 billion, with over $1.86 billion supporting forest communities.
Climate finance is growing. Action is being taken on emissions. Renewable clean energy is expanding at record pace, creating thousands of jobs and boosting economies. Countries are embedding nature into climate strategies, launching adaptation plans, and investing in nature-based solutions.
These are not just policies, they are lifelines.
Brazil’s proposal for the Tropical Forests Forever Fund is a visionary step toward valuing nature’s role in climate stability. That is why it was an Earthshot Prize finalist this year. The initiative recognises that climate and nature must be addressed together/ not in silos, but in synergy.
The science is clear: we must go further if we are to secure a liveable future for all: and we must go together.
The time for partnership, protection, and progress is now. We know what is at stake. We know what must be done. And we know that no country, no community, and no individual can do it alone.
Our children and grandchildren will stand on the shoulders of our collective action.
Let us use these inspiring surroundings here in the Amazon to rise to this moment, not with hesitation, but with courage; not with division, but with collaboration; not with delay, but with decisive commitment. Let us honour the leadership of those who have long protected the planet, indigenous peoples and local communities, and walk forward together.
Let us build a future where nature is valued and where every child inherits a world of prosperity, not peril. Let us rise to this moment with the clarity that history demands of us. Let us be the generation that turned the tide, not for applause, but for the quiet gratitude of those yet to be born.
This, here at COP30, is our moment. Let us not waste it.
Our children and grandchildren are watching, and hoping.”
Carbon Neutral Britain’s Reflection on Prince William’s COP30 Speech
Prince William’s words arrive at a time when climate action is increasingly shaped not only by science and global agreements, but by narratives, some inspiring, others deeply misleading.
We live in a moment where conversations about the environment often unfold not in scientific journals or international halls, but across social media feeds, comment threads, and political soundbites. In those spaces, complex truths can become flattened into slogans; urgent realities can be questioned or dismissed; and genuine environmental challenges are sometimes overshadowed by polarised debate and culture-war dynamics.
Yet speeches like this remind us of something quieter and more enduring:
Real climate progress is built on collaboration, grounded science, and steady determination, not noise, not division, not quick wins or viral posts.
The Prince’s remarks emphasise themes that rise above political cycles and online discourse:
• Responsibility across generations
• Respect for science and lived experience
• The wisdom and rights of Indigenous communities
• Collaboration between nations, sectors, and individuals
• Optimism grounded in action, not wishful thinking
At Carbon Neutral Britain, we hold the same perspective.
Climate action is not about winning arguments on the internet or choosing sides in political theatre. It is about protecting lives, restoring nature, enhancing energy security, and creating a fairer, more resilient world, all supported by credible evidence, practical solutions, and the diverse voices of communities.
Where misinformation creates confusion, truth and transparency must bring clarity. Where cynicism spreads online, lived examples of progress must bring confidence.
Our approach remains simple and grounded:
• Work with businesses and communities.
• Support measurable and meaningful climate action.
• Champion science, evidence, and fairness.
• Empower people to act, not argue.
Prince William’s message reinforces the same humility and shared effort that guides our mission: to help Britain, and the world, move beyond debate into real, practical climate solutions that benefit everyone, now and for generations to come.
