Prince William urges global CEOs to 'be the leader you wanted to be when you were growing up'

Prince William urges global CEOs to 'be the leader you wanted to be when you were growing up' The Prince of Wales, Prince William, hosted an event of global business leaders and tech bosses who for the first time ever have committed to ending wildlife trafficking on their platforms Prince William has urged CEOs of the world’s biggest tech companies to “be the leader you wanted to be when you were growing up” in a plea to try and reverse the planet’s environmental problems. At the launch of London Climate Action Week, the Prince of Wales convened a forum of major tech bosses - including Google, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, Alibaba, Baidu, eBay, Etsy, and Pinterest, to announce a commitment for the first time to end wildlife trafficking on their platforms. Speaking on behalf of the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife, William spoke of his optimism for the future, but also said more needed to be done to help battle climate change and wildlife degradation. On stage at the Frameless exhibition near Marble Arch, William was joined by actors and environmentalists Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch. The prince told the global business leaders to be “more ambitious and courageous” in their actions to help the environment and “be the leader you wanted to be when you were growing up”. Asked by host June Sarpong what is the one argument CEOs should be making to their boards, William said: “That is a tricky one, there are several arguments that they should be making. “But I think one particular thing is about the idea that this is going to make your business.” William went on to praise the pioneering innovators involved in his Earthshot Prize awards who have given him optimism for the future. At a gathering of leading environmentalists and tech bosses brought in London, the Prince of Wales said their planet saving solutions “keep my environmental anxiety at bay” and “helps me sleep at night”. Speaking directly to the company bosses, he said: “You have the power to influence, your voice matters in your business, your direction matters and here more than anything, your leadership matters. “Many of you can be more ambitious and courageous in what you do for the planet and for the environment.” He went on: “Be the leader you wanted to be when you were growing up, not the one you are in the business right now. “Touch into what you were when you were a child and what you wanted to see the world, and bring those values to light as a CEO. “More specifically, technology and innovation, we are seeing such a change in that, please embrace that for good.” William launched the global environmental awards in 2020, and will award £1million prizes to five innovators each year for a decade. The programme has received thousands of entries and their collective efforts, William said, leaves him feeling that “we can do this” and reverse the horrors of climate change. Efforts. At a business forum for The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife, William was asked what his plans were once the Earthshot decade was up in 2030. Chatting with former US Vice President Al Gore, wildlife filmmakers Bertie Gregory and Malaika Vaz and poet Sir Ben Okri, the prince said he is focused solely on Earthshot at the moment but admitted that there will be “some sweaty nights” ahead as they decide what to do next. “We have some debating to do,” he admitted. “It is going to keep us on our toes.” But William said Earthshot has left him feeling optimistic about the future as they find innovative ways to help tackle things like microplastic pollution in washing machines, and creating biodegradable packaging from seaweed. “For me it keeps my environmental anxiety at bay because I can actually see some of the things we are doing are bringing change,” he told them. “We can do this. There are actually tangible benefits, and it helps me sleep at night.” Later, Ms Watson praised the Prince for his environmental awards as they were each asked what made them become environmental activists. The Harry Potter star, who was just 11 years old when the first film was released in 2001, recalled how photographers turned up at her family’s Oxfordshire home shortly after she shot to fame for her role as Hermione Granger in the film series. But her mother was surprised to learn that the long lenses weren’t there to snap her famous daughter, and were instead following a bird on the brink of extinction, the red kite. Relieved that the press hadn’t discovered their private home, she let them into their garden to follow the red kite. “Conservationists have managed to bring them back,” she told the 200 guests. Asked what line of optimism she wanted to leave the audience with, she referred to the Walt Disney Studios film Finding Dory. William interjected, “great film”, before the actress said that the storyline, which sees Dory, a blue tang fish captured by humans, cause such an outcry that the species is now protected by conservationists. “Storytelling is really powerful,” she said.