During an impassioned speech in Botswana yesterday, Prince Harry warned that there is “a race against time” to halt global warming and that he is ”troubled” by climate change.
“I don’t believe that there’s anybody in this world that can deny science,” he said.
He called it “an emergency”, adding “the world’s children are striking” after teenage activist Greta Thunberg led a worldwide protest on Friday.
WATCH: Prince Harry expresses grave concerns about climate change
The Duke of Sussex paid a visit to Botswana as part of his 10-day tour of southern Africa with wife, Meghan Markle and son, Archie.
During his speech, the 35-year-old said Botswana held a very special place in his heart, particularly as he visited the African country directly after his mother, Prince Diana’s death in 1997.
“Now I feel deeply connected to this place and to Africa,” he said during a visit to the Chobe Tree Reserve, where he helped plant trees.
The prince’s words were particularly poignant given the recent activism of 16-year-old Greta Thunberg – addressed a UN one-day summit on the issue of climate change this week.
“This last week, led by Greta, the world’s children are striking,” the prince said.
“It’s a race against time and one in which we are losing. Everyone knows it.
“There’s no excuse for not knowing that and the most troubling part of that is that I don’t believe that there’s anybody in this world that can deny science.”
On a more personal note, Harry then opened up about how Botswana had offered him refuge after the death of his mother.
“Fifteen years I’ve been coming here, it’s a sense of escapism, a real sense of purpose … I have some of my closest friends here over the years,” he said.
“I came here in 1997, 1998, straight after my mum died, so it was a nice place to get away from it all.
“But now I feel deeply connected to this place and to Africa.”
Harry’s powerful speech comes just weeks after he and Meghan were heavily criticised for their use of private jets.
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