The Prince of Wales will attend the Cop30 UN climate summit in Brazil next month, the Guardian has learned. Prince William is expected to present the Earthshot prize and join representatives from over 190 governments in Belém.
Environmental experts have welcomed the prince's attendance. Solitaire Townsend, co-founder of Futerra consultancy, described it as a 'stunt' but a positive one, saying it would draw global media attention and encourage other leaders to commit. Gareth Redmond-King of the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit added that any high-profile individual helping to make the case for climate action is 'almost certainly a good thing'.
King Charles, who has attended previous Cops, will not attend this summit. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not yet confirmed his attendance, drawing criticism from former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and former Irish president Mary Robinson, who called attendance a 'test of leadership'.
