The Prince of Wales says he has the same faith the world can “repair and regenerate our planet” as when John F Kennedy said he believed man could land on the moon.

William described the current time as a “critical decade” in trying to overcome the destruction of unique habitats, and the pollution of the atmosphere and oceans.

Speaking during a film aired at the ceremony in Boston for his Earthshot Prize, which honours environmental pioneers, he said: “From Moonshot to Earthshot, the seemingly unsolvable can be solved.”

In May 1961, President Kennedy declared to Congress the goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

Seven years later, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon.

During the film William says: “Earth holds such splendour and gives us many things – beauty, curiosity, joy, and most importantly, earth gives us life.

“For too long, many of us have taken for granted everything our planet gives us.

Prince William calls himself a ‘stubborn optimist’ before he and Kate arrive at Earthshot Prize awards ceremony

William and Kate’s blighted US trip to end with Biden meeting and star-studded Earthshot Prize ceremony

Billie Eilish to headline Prince William’s Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Boston

“We have polluted our atmosphere and our oceans, and have destroyed many unique habitats.

“This year, we have seen the influence of climate change like never before with record high temperatures and extreme weather events causing devastation across every continent, affecting people’s health and livelihoods.”

Read more:
William and Kate get moment to shine during Boston visit beset by bad news
‘Dire predictions don’t have to be our future,’ says Prince of Wales

Ebbing away

William continued: “The urgency needed to save the planet is ever accelerating, while the time we have to make meaningful changes is ebbing away.

“But just as President John F Kennedy had faith that humankind could put a man on the moon, I have the same faith today that we can repair and regenerate our planet in this critical decade.

“From Moonshot to Earthshot, the seemingly unsolvable can be solved.”

The Earthshot finalists are seeking solutions that will protect and restore nature, revive the oceans, clean air, build a waste-free world and fix the climate.

William said their “ambition and innovation” will “help put the world on a path towards a stable climate, where communities, nature, and oceans thrive in harmony”.

He added: “Together we can achieve a sustainable future for generations to come.

“Together, we will change the future of our planet.”

Related posts:

UK reports 36,660 new COVID cases and 50 more deaths Shortage of gritter drivers could leave motorists stuck on icy roads this winter, councils warn Man admits manslaughter of millionaire hotel owner Sir Richard Sutton – but denies murder Student guilty of murdering step-grandmother after ‘truth or dare’ game confession Huge fire on the Wirral may have been deliberately started Spring booster jabs to be offered to millions of vulnerable people in England Central London student flats murder victim named as manhunt continues Britain and allies face ‘1937 moment’ following Ukraine war, head of army to warn UK-French taskforce set up to tackle travel chaos after huge queues at Dover England star reveals two key things they’ll need to defeat Germany in the Euro 2022 final tomorrow Girl, 16, wounded outside house party in drive-by shooting in Manchester Portrait of King released to celebrate his first birthday as monarch