Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have made a bold climate change promise as members of the British royal family attend the Cop26 summit in Glasgow.
The couple announced today that they plan to make their Archewell Foundation more environmentally conscious, aiming for “net zero carbon emissions by 2030”.
In an update titled ‘Reaching Net Zero‘ on the Archewell website, the Duke and Duchess outlined their plans and directly referenced the climate change summit in Scotland.
“As global leaders convene for COP26 to commit to solutions for our climate crisis, all of us at Archewell, led by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, share our pledge towards a more sustainable future by becoming net zero by 2030,” the post read.
Harry’s father Prince Charles is currently attending the summit, alongside Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The Queen was meant to attend but had to cancel her appearance on doctors’ advice, instead sending a poignant video message that was played at the event’s opening reception.
The Archewell post continued: “Our co-founders, Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have a long-standing commitment to the planet, both together and prior to their union, with global projects and partnerships dating back over a decade.”
They went on to explain that “nearly every activity” in daily life contributes to carbon gas emissions, from the food we eat, to transport and using electricity.
With that in mind, the Duke and Duchess are making “choices to offset and balance this carbon footprint, now” through Archewell, committing to reaching net zero in just over eight years.
“As an organisation, we will work with an independent consultant to track all Archewell-related activities from our inception (internet use, commutes, and electricity in home offices, for example) to understand our collective footprint,” the message added.
The foundation will then implement a plan that “aligns with the latest guidance from leading organizations” to reach net zero carbon emissions within a decade.
It’s a bold promise from Harry and Duchess Meghan, who have been vocal about the importance of taking action on climate change in recent years.
They’re not the only royals who are pushing for a more sustainable, environmentally conscious future either.
In Glasgow this week, other senior royals are meeting with world leaders at the UN’s Cop26 climate summit to push for real action on the issue of climate change.
Future king Charles has been outspoken about environmentalism for years, as has his son Prince William, who established the Earthshot Prize to push for innovation when tackling environmental issues.
The Queen has also urged world leaders to take action, saying in a video message on Monday: “None of us will live forever.
“But we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.”
Her Majesty also revealed in her speech that her late husband Prince Philip was passionate about environmental issues and she was “so proud” of other royals continuing his work.