Prince William said it was “a privilege” to step into his father’s shoes and give a keynote speech at COP30 on Thursday, where he warned climate change is “not a distant threat”. Addressing world leaders at the climate summit in Belem, a Brazilian city described as the gateway to the Amazon, he noted that communities around the world – including in the UK – are already feeling the effects of rising temperatures.

William, who is attending COP on behalf of his father, King Charles, said: “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.”