Prince William: A Planet for Us All

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:02]I've always loved nature.

[00:00:03]>> Up there. Yeah, >> there you go.

[00:00:05]>> Brilliant. Look at that.

[00:00:06]>> But fatherhood has given me a new sense of purpose.

[00:00:09]Now I've got George, Charlotte, and now Louie. Your outlook does change. You want to hand over to the next generation. The wildlife in a much better condition. So 2 years ago, >> no doubt, right?

[00:00:23]>> A film crew joined me.

[00:00:25]>> No worries. Quick bit of wild footage and a cup of tea.

[00:00:28]>> Perfect. on my search for ways to protect the natural world.

[00:00:32]>> Oh, look at that worm. Where'd you find him? You know, they don't like being in your hand cuz the heat's >> Do you all care about the environment?

[00:00:39]Is this something you learn at school?

[00:00:41]>> I've always believed it's possible to give the young people hope that >> and belief that things can get fixed.

[00:00:49]>> It's been quite a journey.

[00:00:51]Amazing places. We stood up for the people's spark for the sake of our children's future.

[00:00:59]>> Inspiring people.

[00:01:01]>> It's a recognized face.

[00:01:04]>> Excuse me.

[00:01:05]>> The children are very upset that we were coming to see you and they weren't for me. They're massive.

[00:01:10]>> Kids know an awful lot about what's happening to the world. Very remarkable.

[00:01:15]>> I don't want to have a sea empty of all these amazing animals.

[00:01:20]>> There's been much to smile about.

[00:01:23]If you lived in the bug and pal, what bug would you be? I would be the queen bee.

[00:01:26]>> You'd be the queen bee, I'm sure.

[00:01:29]>> A moment that I found haunting.

[00:01:34]>> It's just a It's a mindblowing number of tusks. Above all, it's opened my eyes and given me hope.

[00:01:42]This is where the hall belongs on a live rhino. That's where it should stay.

[00:01:46]Quickly, get the rhino before it goes.

[00:01:50]Somebody has to put their head above the parapit and say I care about this. I have belief that if we all work together we can make a difference.

[00:02:12]Sandringham the Queen's Norfolk estate is a place where Prince William feels especially at home.

[00:02:24]Growing up, he often explored it.

[00:02:32]It's like a slice of the British countryside in miniature.

[00:02:37]There are ancient woodlands, working farms, even a stretch of wild coast.

[00:02:50]There's quite a few places on Sandrean that I love.

[00:02:54]Favorite spots like this.

[00:02:57]Just get piece of quiet, time to think, and the views are stunning.

[00:03:04]Can hear all the birds. So nice.

[00:03:10]Hear the ice catches.

[00:03:13]They're cool. Got a nest right there.

[00:03:16]Beautiful birds always catches.

[00:03:20]It takes me back to my childhood hearing that noise.

[00:03:26]As a young boy, Prince William developed a deep connection with the natural world, one he now shares with his own children. Seeing my children, seeing the passion in their eyes and the love for being outdoors, they find a bug or they love watching how the bees are forming the honey.

[00:03:45]>> George particularly, if he's not outdoors, he's he's quite like caged animal. He needs to get outside.

[00:03:52]>> His children's passion for nature is no surprise.

[00:03:57]It's in their genes.

[00:04:00]My grandfather, my father have been in the conservation and the environmental ward for many years.

[00:04:06]My grandfather's well ahead of his time, my father ahead of his time.

[00:04:13]I really want to make sure that in the 20 years, George doesn't turn around and say, "You're ahead of your time." Cuz if he does, we're too late.

[00:04:24]I thought about that the other day, and I just thought, you know, three generations of the same family saying the same thing.

[00:04:30]When will we see the action that everyone so desperately needs? at once.

[00:04:43]>> Burken Head might seem an unlikely place to find answers, but today the Duchess of Cambridge is naming a ship after a man who perhaps has done more for nature than anyone.

[00:04:57]>> It gives me great pleasure to name this ship, Sir David Ashenra. And may God bless her and all those who sail in her.

[00:05:16]Sir David has had a great influence over Prince William's family and is a personal mentor to him.

[00:05:21]>> So David, he's been a voice for the environment for many, many years. He's been a fantastic inspiration.

[00:05:27]>> It's a recognized face.

[00:05:30]>> Good morning. That's sweet.

[00:05:35]>> What do you think?

[00:05:37]>> I hope they do something about the floor.

[00:05:38]>> The floor is actually Yeah.

[00:05:40]>> The children are very upset that we were coming to see you and they weren't coming. They're massive fans of your >> They watch all your programs. Honestly, >> do they watch honestly absolutely fascinated by >> I've gotten quite the African ones cuz fond of Africa, but they love all the programs.

[00:05:57]Like Sir David, his oceangoing namesake is destined to unearth nature's biggest secrets in the remotest corners of the planet.

[00:06:08]The British Antarctic Survey hope it will help them better understand the climate crisis.

[00:06:15]The polar regions are really the most sensitive areas of the planet to climate change.

[00:06:22]The British Antarctic Survey have been monitoring changes in Antarctica for many, many, many years. We can see that the ice really is thinning and it's cracking. The glaciers, they've shrunk and they've retreated.

[00:06:38]>> It's very difficult to predict just what it is that is going to be the key thing.

[00:06:43]So that for example, the discovery of the ozone hole in 1986, they weren't looking for that. They they were just no I mean they were just doing their standard surveys and then they noticed this hole that rang the warning bell and that was the British Antarctic survey.

[00:07:00]>> You know that a lot of the ice shelf particularly the western part of the Antarctic have >> you know it's such a good way as well connect the public to the amazing research and to the environment like that that they might not be familiar with. Well, that is so um and uh uh and the public is becoming extraordinary well informed. In fact, it seems to me, I mean, kids know an awful lot now about ecology and about what's happening to the world. And it's very remarkable. I mean, this is first gen.

[00:07:30]>> I wonder who's taught them so much about it.

[00:07:33]>> Well, they haven't. Everyone, every generation, you know, after yours, David, has grown up listening and seeing all the things that you've shown them.

[00:07:39]And hopefully each generation listens a little bit more. Fixing the planet is a daunting challenge, but Prince William doesn't have to go far to find seeds of hope.

[00:07:53]Just the other side of the river Mury.

[00:07:56]>> My message to Prince William is to tell everyone that nature needs saving and it's not too late to save it.

[00:08:06]Down the road from Liverpool's footballing champions, an inspiring group of children have their own goal.

[00:08:15]>> To give nature a helping hand.

[00:08:18]>> Leho Emeralds are a group of environmentalists who like to garden, get covered in mud, chat, and save the world.

[00:08:30]>> I don't want to drop it. It's wavy. It's wavy. Put it on my hand.

[00:08:34]>> The Eco Emeralds are beginning with insects by building a giant bug hotel with a familiar ring to it.

[00:08:41]>> I want to be inside.

[00:08:43]>> Prince William is dropping in for a surprise visit.

[00:08:47]>> It's fantastic that you're here. Really want to thank you. So, it's great. I'm keen to see it. Actually, really am.

[00:08:52]>> This is fine. We've got anybody.

[00:08:55]>> They're very keen to see you. They don't know yet. Okay.

[00:08:58]>> As long as you haven't told them that someone from Anfield's turning up, it's all right. It'll be very >> daddy's have a look.

[00:09:09]>> Good morning everybody.

[00:09:12]>> What's your name?

[00:09:13]>> Poya.

[00:09:15]>> Daisy. Poppy. Now hello now.

[00:09:17]>> Happy day of Elliot.

[00:09:19]>> We need to look at the books because worms help fertilization.

[00:09:26]>> Yeah.

[00:09:26]>> Can you tell me what you've been up to?

[00:09:29]>> Funny bugs. A tour of the Bugingham Palace.

[00:09:32]>> Oh, you've done it like that. Buggingham Palace. I love it.

[00:09:35]>> Me is like the little Is that the Queen's on it?

[00:09:38]>> Very good.

[00:09:40]>> We made all different sections where like animals go.

[00:09:43]>> So, this is where we put like the slugs.

[00:09:46]>> Like at the top, we've got grass. That's where the worms live.

[00:09:50]>> Oh, look at that worm. You know, they don't like being in your hand cuz the heat.

[00:09:54]>> Yeah.

[00:09:55]>> There's one very special kind of bug for whom the children will roll out the red carpet.

[00:10:01]>> Are we going to get some bees in this summer, do you think?

[00:10:03]>> Yeah.

[00:10:05]>> Why are bees so important?

[00:10:07]>> Because like they create 7 >> 5% of our food chain. They pollinate pollinators.

[00:10:14]>> And why is why is pollinating plants and flowers really important? Um because >> because in the flowers and plants um they bring life to our earth and they help other animals like the caterpillars.

[00:10:29]>> If there was no nature, no bees, no food, no us.

[00:10:36]>> I've got a few questions for you.

[00:10:37]>> Have you? Okay. Ask me questions. If you're asking me about percentages of bees and things like that and watch things, I might not be able to answer them.

[00:10:44]>> Is Princess Charlotte cheeky than Prince George? No, they're about as cheeky as each other. They're very cheeky. And I've been completely blown away by how knowledgeable these children are.

[00:10:54]>> What is it? Is it a little >> rove beetle? Rose beetle. Very good knowledge.

[00:10:58]>> They really understand that without these insects, we lose so much.

[00:11:06]>> Making a home for bugs in their own backyard may be a small start, >> but it has massive implications.

[00:11:14]At the minute, we're in the middle of an extinction crisis. We have reports saying that 40% of all insects across the globe could be extinct in the next few decades. I mean, that is catastrophic.

[00:11:26]The reasons for that are habitat loss and pollution, including pesticides and herbicides, which knock out obviously a lot of insects on the food for insects.

[00:11:34]That has implications right throughout the food chain because for the most part, everything eats insects.

[00:11:40]birds, bats, lizards, hedgehogs. We also need insects as well. So we've got in the UK 270 species of bee. But as the kids were telling you, they're really, really important for our pollination. So without them, you know, we don't have things like tomatoes. Bumblebees pollinate tomato crops.

[00:12:01]>> The inspiration for Elliot's idea came from an unlikely place, his school dinner.

[00:12:08]I started the emeralds because I saw that the ice cream had palm oil in.

[00:12:16]Palm oil makes me sad because it's destroying the monkeys habitat because they're cutting down the trees just so a bunch of kids can eat a bowl of ice cream. Well, a tub with a plastic lid.

[00:12:34]It was killing 25 orangutangs a day when they cut down the trees. So I wanted to stop that and let animals live and be happy.

[00:12:48]It's not just orangutangs that are in danger. It's everyone.

[00:12:57]>> Buckingham Palace is just the beginning.

[00:13:00]>> You can try your hand on some grass.

[00:13:03]Elliot and his mates believe we can all help insects.

[00:13:07]So, they persuaded the entire school to scatter seeds to create natural habitats for bugs across Liverpool's open spaces.

[00:13:17]>> People plant flowers in their own garden, but like if we can start like planting more flowers in like the parks so like animals like caterpillars and bees and stuff can live in their natural habitat.

[00:13:31]There's going to be more bugs in there than what's usually in that park because it's a bit dodgy.

[00:13:40]>> It's an inner city school here in Anfield.

[00:13:43]A lot of families don't have gardens.

[00:13:46]There are very few green spaces. That kind of makes it all the more fantastic really. These children wanting to do something for nature at large when their exposure to it is is not great.

[00:13:59]It's important that their energy inspires the rest of us in positions that can do something to do something.

[00:14:06]That's the way I see it. I certainly don't want them to worry and have to to fix it all, but we should be harnessing their energy and their passion for fixing this and helping them do that.

[00:14:16]>> It'll be a few months before Liverpool comes into bloom. But today, Prince William has one final duty to perform.

[00:14:23]>> He's got a spot to go in the grassy.

[00:14:26]He declares Buckingham Palace officially >> open.

[00:14:42]>> Prince William knows full well the importance of insects.

[00:14:48]At Sandringham, they're trying out new ways to boost bug numbers.

[00:14:54]This is a bit of an experiment as you can see that the trees have been planted in the field but alongside that you'll have either barley or wheat growing around it as well. So it's mixing the two crops together if you like.

[00:15:07]There's evidence that the insects and invertebrates in the in the trees protect the crops against pests thereby reducing the reliance on a lot of the crops for pesticides. you can produce food and you can have an abundance of wildlife and invertebrates and it's something my father particularly is very keen on and ideally that is where more of the countries should go with farming.

[00:15:27]We can't just say well it's all for growing crops and screw everything else.

[00:15:31]We've got to be mindful of that that that intrinsical balance and that's what it is. It's a balance. It's about making sure that our footprint is not so overly dominant that nothing else survives.

[00:15:45]Prince William's passion for conservation started in his teens when he visited the continent that would change his life.

[00:15:59]Africa is is my second home if you like.

[00:16:02]the wildlife, the environment, the people here, scenery, everything about it. It got into my soul, if you like, and I realized that this is a this is a very special place.

[00:16:17]>> Africa is where Prince William spent time shortly after his mother died.

[00:16:25]It's also where he proposed.

[00:16:32]Governor, >> how are you? Welcome.

[00:16:35]>> This is the first time he's returning since Prince Louie was born.

[00:16:38]>> This is Patcha.

[00:16:39]>> Patcha. Hi, Pa.

[00:16:43]>> I'm here today because I came to meet Prince William.

[00:16:47]>> You look like trouble. You're like my little Charlotte. How old is she?

[00:16:50]>> Three.

[00:16:51]>> She's three. Yes, exactly. You're just like my little Charlotte.

[00:16:55]>> I used to follow him since he was born way back in the 80s. I liked the mother.

[00:17:00]Actually, I like the mother. So, I I I think he'll help us a lot.

[00:17:05]>> Some people not going to wash their hands.

[00:17:10]>> The Duke being here is inspirational.

[00:17:12]Tells us that conservation is not just a a one country affair.

[00:17:21]>> Prince William is in Tanzania to tackle an issue. He's made a personal campaign >> something >> ending poaching and the illegal smuggling of wildlife.

[00:17:33]>> I think you realize a lot more when you become a father. You're quite happy golucky young guy enjoy parties and then all of a sudden you go hang on a second there's a little person here. I'm responsible for that person.

[00:17:47]>> Th this is a lovely lady. This one this is Deborah.

[00:17:51]>> That's Deborah there.

[00:17:51]>> Come on Deborah. Deborah, it's okay.

[00:17:54]Deborah >> like Deborah a lot. Never known a rhino be called Deborah before.

[00:18:00]>> Now I've got George, Charlotte, and now Louie in my life. Your outlook has changed.

[00:18:07]>> And these two cars with the wrinkles are both Deborah's cars.

[00:18:12]>> And that's why I had to do something. I had to get involved because I really felt that by the time my children were 20, you know, 25, at the rate the poaching was at, there may not have been another rhino in the wild. and there probably wouldn't have been many elephants left at all.

[00:18:26]It really was that urgent and that critical.

[00:18:29]They are a prehistoric oddlooking creature, but when you get to see their characters and you get to see the family bond they have with their mom, it does make you feel like you're watching a really close family unit.

[00:18:41]And the fact that they're they're under so much threat is really quite sad.

[00:18:46]Rhino horn is smuggled from Africa, much of it for alternative medicine, even though there's no evidence of it having any benefit at all. People might see them and think that's a big tank, big hulk of an animal with a big horn, but they are incredibly vulnerable. They don't have brilliant eyesight and people will take advantage of that. And they want this horn, which is effectively nail, you know, and that is all it is.

[00:19:12]It's it's fingernail.

[00:19:14]This is where the hall belongs on on the on a live rhino. That's where it should stay.

[00:19:23]>> With such a high price on their heads, Deborah and her calves must live out their lives behind a fortified electric fence.

[00:19:32]Today, the Duke is helping conservationist Tony Fitz John with some essential maintenance.

[00:19:37]>> Now, JCB, the back end is just like flying a helicopter. St. Israel thinks you'll have no problem if not at all.

[00:19:45]>> Okay, Israel.

[00:19:49]>> I spent a lot of time when I was 18 in my gap year here.

[00:19:53]It broadened my horizons living amongst everybody.

[00:20:00]>> Nothing like having instructions in Swahili.

[00:20:05]>> I got exposed to all the hard work and the effort it takes to look after the wildlife, to look after a spectacular place. um such as this.

[00:20:16]>> Protecting threatened species is costly.

[00:20:20]>> They are watched the whole time. These rhino are they have more bodyguards than I do.

[00:20:27]>> And that is crazy that we have to put that amount of guns around rhino because people want to have their horn into the bunker.

[00:20:40]Thankfully, not all of Africa's wildlife lives like this.

[00:20:44]>> It's rare you get to see so many rhino interacting together. Normally, it's one or two. Prince William is about to see one of the rarest sightes of all.

[00:21:06]It's a good walk.

[00:21:08]>> Yes. morning.

[00:21:09]>> Nice to get out the car.

[00:21:11]>> Yeah.

[00:21:13]>> In Namibia, he's hoping to catch a rare glimpse of one of the world's last remaining truly wild black rhinos. Of this subspecies, there are fewer than a thousand left.

[00:21:25]>> It's a huge area.

[00:21:27]It's actually difficult. It's like searching for a needle in the desert.

[00:21:32]We've got very good evidence that the rhino is here. We found some fresh dung.

[00:21:39]This dung is very fresh, wet still.

[00:21:43]There's still lots of water in. Maybe 45 minutes. Even dung beetles hasn't come yet.

[00:21:52]>> After 2 hours trekking in the desert heat, they get their reward.

[00:21:57]There he is. Finally.

[00:22:02]Big spray. Yeah.

[00:22:06]Quickly, get the right before he goes.

[00:22:12]>> It's a cow. Actually, it's not a mic.

[00:22:14]>> It's a once in a lifetime moment.

[00:22:17]>> It looks very It's okay.

[00:22:25]>> Here, the poachers are successfully kept at bay by what amounts to a vast neighborhood watch scheme.

[00:22:33]The local communities co-own the people's park, >> seeing living wildlife as a valuable resource for their future.

[00:22:44]The more we can do community conservation, the more the locals realize that if I have an elephant in my backyard, I can tolerate it every now and again causing a bit of trouble, but I know that it's going to bring loads of money and tourism into the area. And then they start valuing and then they teach their children and and so on. We stood up for the people's park for the sake of our children's future.

[00:23:06]>> You saw the merits in what was being done and you wanted to show your support.

[00:23:09]>> Yes.

[00:23:10]>> Good.

[00:23:11]>> That's why I care so much about the League of Wild Traders cuz you take that rhino out of there. You poach that elephant out of there. They're being robbed of their natural resources. What you've set up here in Namibia is incredibly important. That is the best way to have wildlife thrive, that the people thrive, too.

[00:23:30]>> Every single live rhino that you see is good news. But we don't want to see one animal. We want to see hundreds.

[00:23:38]Preventing poaching on the ground is just the first battle.

[00:23:46]Prince William believes governments could win the war by stopping the smugglers in Tanzania. The authorities are keen to show the Duke the scale of the problem at a heavily guarded secret facility.

[00:24:02]Excellency, Mister, you're welcome to our library.

[00:24:23]Since the queen was born, the global elephant population has plummeted 90%.

[00:24:36]>> It's just a It's a mindblowing number of tusks. It really is. Can't get a head behind it.

[00:24:44]>> In in this in this warehouse alone, we have around 43,000 pieces.

[00:24:52]>> Nearly half the ivory in this room is from poached animals.

[00:24:58]The tusks are impounded to keep them from the black market where they would fetch nearly 50 million.

[00:25:09]Look at the size of that thing. How many tons of ivory is here?

[00:25:13]>> 145.

[00:25:14]>> 145 tons of ivory.

[00:25:19]>> It's a weird feeling.

[00:25:21]>> Very weird feeling.

[00:25:22]>> It's unbelievable.

[00:25:24]>> Kg and this one is 85 >> 87 kg.

[00:25:27]>> 87.

[00:25:28]>> Is that the biggest tusk ever seen?

[00:25:30]>> The biggest in the ivory so far.

[00:25:33]>> My goodness. It's It's a really weird feeling. It's kind of um when you try and visualize how many elephants were attached to these tusks, that's when it gets really quite scary. But this guy, I mean, this guy must have been a hell of a character.

[00:25:45]Very impressive elephant.

[00:25:48]Um the size of those tusks are enormous.

[00:25:52]They should have stayed in him.

[00:25:57]Not seen anything like it.

[00:26:05]The illegal wildlife trade is now the world's fourth largest organized crime.

[00:26:14]The Duke believes he can help stamp it out for good.

[00:26:17]>> You want to open it? You'll put the dog in.

[00:26:20]>> By influencing countries to work together.

[00:26:28]I feel that I can use my position to help and I'm in a unique position to do that.

[00:26:33]>> We we'd love the Tanzanian Port Authority to sign up to the transportation task.

[00:26:37]>> Every now and again, somebody has to put their head above the parapit and say, "I care about this."

[00:26:43]>> Back home in London, the Duke uses his status to pile pressure on the world's leaders.

[00:26:51]Your excellencies, ministers, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to London.

[00:26:56]It is heartening to see so many of you here today, united by a common desire to end the illegal wildlife trade.

[00:27:03]I have just returned from a visit to Tanzania and Namibia. I saw some tremendous work being done to intercept the trade. Over 100 representatives of the transport sector have signed the Buckingham Palace declaration committing to disrupt the flow of illegal wildlife products passing through their trucks, their ships and their planes.

[00:27:26]For me, I felt very strongly that we had to start with something that you canite the conservation world around to give the young people hope and belief that things can get fixed. Because if we can't fix something like the eagle wala trade, how on earth are we going to fix climate change and some of these are more complex global issues.

[00:27:50]By the turn of the century, climate change is predicted to cause our oceans to rise by as much as 2 m.

[00:27:59]And across the world, extreme weather and its impacts are intensifying.

[00:28:12]Every summer since 2015, fast-moving floods in Pakistan have washed away Himalayan villages and roads, leaving thousands of people cut off and homeless.

[00:28:25]>> Is it like a wall of water coming down?

[00:28:27]>> Yeah, you can see the boulders.

[00:28:29]>> So last year, the Duke and Duchess took a trip to see not just the devastation, but the source of the floods.

[00:28:39]rapidly melting glacias.

[00:28:42]>> Everyone's asking all of us to protect the environment and what comes first is asking you to care about it in the first place and you're not necessarily going to care about it if you don't know about it. And I think that's why we felt so important to come here.

[00:28:56]>> When Prince William first met Catherine at St. Andrews University, he was studying geography, so climate change is a familiar subject.

[00:29:07]And here in Pakistan, its catastrophic consequences are about to be laid bare.

[00:29:13]>> We are very lucky to be up here to see this. Nothing is more important right now than than climate change and the environment.

[00:29:20]>> They're meeting Dr. Farukq Basher, a worldleading climatologist who's been studying how the glacias are melting at record speed. Over here in Hindu Kush, this area holds world largest ice reserves outside polar region. We have got more than 2700 km cube of water in form of snow and ice.

[00:29:47]>> Dr. Bashier is warning of a terrifying truth that millions of people could soon see their taps run dry.

[00:29:57]So majority of glaciers in Pakistan are retreating and they are retreating at alarmingly high rate and global warming is responsible for that and these glaciers provide drinking and irrigation water to 200 million people in Pakistan.

[00:30:17]It's not just Pakistan.

[00:30:19]If the planet's glacias continue to melt, a quarter of the world's population would lose access to fresh water.

[00:30:27]>> A lot of people in the cities around the world are used to just turning the tap on and having instant water, >> forgetting, you know, this is where it comes from and this is how we have to manage it. This is where, you know, if this goes wrong up here, >> is all our water.

[00:30:38]>> Very right. Because cities are expanding and the natural availability of water is not good enough to sustain that big population. It takes the story, doesn't it, away from just being about the environment and climate change, but it takes it into people's homes. Actually, this is about water. This is something about >> Yes. There is water. Yeah. Exactly.

[00:30:54]>> Survival.

[00:30:55]>> Survival. Exactly. Because that is their lifeline >> because these glaciers provide water in spring and summer period where we have no rainfall.

[00:31:06]>> I heard that you are a geographer by training.

[00:31:09]>> Dr. Warren, my geography teacher, would be well impressed on the back of a glassia after all these years.

[00:31:16]And we'd love to come and show our children environments like this. You can impress George with your geography knowledge.

[00:31:23]>> Finally, my geography chat about terminal marines is useful. I've been, you know, given ridicule about it for years and now I can actually talk to professor about it. He's like, "Oh, you know what a marine is. That's good news.

[00:31:39]>> What is going on here is climate change and 1.6 6 billion people depend on this fresh water. That is a huge amount of the world's population. Now, imagine if this goes. It's a it's a huge environmental and humanitarian disaster.

[00:31:51]And yet, we still don't seem to be picking up the pace and understanding it quick enough. And I think the young are really getting it. And the young generation are really wanting more and more people to do stuff and want more action.

[00:32:04]And we've got to speed the pace up.

[00:32:05]We've got to get on top of it. And we need to be more more vocal and more educational about what's going on.

[00:32:15]When it comes to fixing the problems of the planet, the best place to start is at home.

[00:32:23]I'm very privileged in many ways. I get to travel around the world and see lots of incredible landscapes, but every time I fly back into this country and the cloud breaks, the green fields and the variety of the weather here, you can't take it for granted.

[00:32:42]So impressive and I think people forget just what's on their back doorstep and how lucky we are to have such beautiful countryside. We have the extraordinary seasons, the variety that you know the trees, the the hedros, the the crops, the the undulating hills, the mand we've got everything.

[00:33:06]I mind awfully that if we're not going to protect the UK, then we're letting a very beautiful gem just disintegrate.

[00:33:21]When we do pull together for the natural world, there can be farreaching benefits.

[00:33:30]At the northernmost tip of Scotland, the Alle Sea Savers are a children's environmental action group who are making waves protecting their patch.

[00:33:40]We're still young, which means when we're grown up, I don't want to have a sea which is empty of all these amazing animals like herring, scallop, merl.

[00:33:53]>> The children aren't just safeguarding their wonderful sea life.

[00:33:59]They're protecting the future of their whole community.

[00:34:04]>> What was the mouse?

[00:34:05]>> Prince William had planned to visit in person, but due to lockdown, >> she's very, very excited.

[00:34:12]>> They have to make do with the virtual version.

[00:34:15]>> He's gone beyond like stamps and stuff and coins when he's king.

[00:34:22]>> Pete are vibrating.

[00:34:25]>> I can't stop.

[00:34:28]Hello guys.

[00:34:29]>> Hello.

[00:34:32]>> Now, which one of you is Maya and which one of you is Kayn?

[00:34:34]>> Uh, I'm Maya.

[00:34:35]>> I'm Kayyn.

[00:34:37]>> Okay.

[00:34:38]>> How you both finding lockdown?

[00:34:39]>> I do miss seeing my friends and family.

[00:34:42]>> I really keen to hear and talk a bit about your Oliver sea sabers.

[00:34:46]>> We all love the sea. Every sea saba can tell you that it's a really incredible place.

[00:34:54]This stretch of coast is one of Britain's bestkept secrets.

[00:34:59]Scotland's own version of the Great Barrier Reef.

[00:35:06]The jewel in the crown of this rich underwater ecosystem is merl.

[00:35:12]Merl. It looks a lot like a coral, but it's actually an algae.

[00:35:16]It grows super slowly, 1 millimeter per year in slightly warmer waters, but in colder waters such as here, it can grow way slower.

[00:35:26]It's absolutely tiny, but is super beautiful. It's got this really kind of naturally vibrant pink color coming through it. It provides the nursery grounds for loads of species.

[00:35:42]The mer creates such biodiversity that this is a fertile breeding ground for scallops.

[00:35:56]And that's a huge lure for industrial fishing dredgers.

[00:36:05]When dredgers come, they're like big rakes. They'll scrape up the entire seafloor. clean off and it can be filled with wildlife and it wipes out entire habitats.

[00:36:23]When you dredge the scallops, you will completely damage everything else that's there. It can be so devastating.

[00:36:34]with moral especially that could have taken decades to grow and takes minutes to destroy and it's all for a few quid.

[00:36:43]We decided that we should take action.

[00:36:46]We should say, "Hold on a minute. No, you can't do that."

[00:36:51]>> With both the marine life and local fishing industry in jeopardy, the whole town, young and old, petitioned the Scottish Parliament.

[00:37:01]community all came together and we've actually managed to make it a permanent marine protected area.

[00:37:08]>> You've been snorkeling and what you've seen down there is the fish life and the marine life coming back.

[00:37:12]>> It looks healthier. You can really see the changes happening.

[00:37:22]>> Marine protected areas are like national parks for the sea.

[00:37:26]>> Claudia Lake channel.

[00:37:29]They're protected by law.

[00:37:32]So, there's now only one way to fish for scallops, by hand.

[00:37:41]As a diver, if you can put your hand on top of a scolop and you can see shell either side of of your hand, you know it's a a a legal size. And so, that goes in the bag.

[00:37:53]Just take what you need to make a living and take no more. and it'll be there for your children and grandchildren.

[00:38:04]>> Your example is something that will give a lot of people hope and the fact that you got the community together. You've created a difference and you guys should be so proud of yourselves what you've done. You two are a force for good that no one's going to mess with.

[00:38:18]>> Thank you so much.

[00:38:19]>> And I hope I can come up soon and see you.

[00:38:22]>> Yeah, you need to come snorkeling.

[00:38:23]>> I'm reluctant to get in a wet suit, but I will do that if I have to.

[00:38:26]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:38:28]>> To find out how marine protected areas can be expanded across the planet, the Duke is seeking expert advice.

[00:38:35]>> Callum. Hello.

[00:38:36]>> Hello.

[00:38:37]>> From marine biologist, Professor Callum Roberts.

[00:38:40]>> For me, this example really shows that local communities coming together can have an impact.

[00:38:46]>> This is exactly true. What we need to do now is to scale up those efforts across the world so that they can turn around the state of the ocean as a whole. What the science tells us is that we need to be covering the ocean with something like 30% coverage of marine protected areas and then that the oceans themselves will will rebuild and recover. So this this new kind of youthquake and interest in the environment will gradually overtake the more destructive ways of using the environment. I think people will look back and wonder what the hell we were doing to be destroying things just for short-term gain rather than trying to manage them in a way which is going to produce long-term benefit.

[00:39:36]2020 has been an extraordinary year, one that nobody could have predicted.

[00:39:44]I've been very lucky that through the lockdown I've been here surrounded by wildlife.

[00:39:50]I can't talk about Coronirus without mentioning about how many people sadly have lost their lives and how terrible and sad that all is. that I think the tiny little ray of light, if there's any ray of light from this, is that it allows us to take stock and to refocus our priorities.

[00:40:10]I've been really heartened by what I've been hearing from other people and how they've started to appreciate nature and experience it and see all the things that they never thought they would. The details come out because they had the time.

[00:40:27]Lockdown has given Prince William time to reflect on his journey. Is it really possible for local action to have global impact in Liverpool? The Ecoemerald youthquake is producing shock waves of its own.

[00:40:50]Before lockdown, Prince William saw Buckingham Palace taking shape. Are you going to get some bees in this summer?

[00:40:56]Do you think that' be good if you get some bees?

[00:41:03]>> Now the children's urban wildflower meadows are erupting into color.

[00:41:18]It makes me really happy because this park wasn't very nice, but now it's bright and colorful. Usually when I came, I just saw seagulls eating leftover takeaways.

[00:41:32]>> I think it's amazing because we can see loads of bees, like loads and loads.

[00:41:36]>> One of our main goals to protect the bees. So, it's very good. It means that we're doing something right.

[00:41:44]>> Thanks to the power of a social media campaign, the Eco Emerald's message is blossoming nationwide.

[00:41:53]Their idea of backyard nature is saying it doesn't matter where you live, you can still do something which is going to impact on your environment and raise that awareness.

[00:42:08]There are now over 10,000 backyard nature guardians across the country.

[00:42:15]Among them, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louie. We know in the UK there's about 15 million gardens and that is equivalent of a national park the size of Dartmore. If every garden in the UK took on board backyard nature and made it a haven for wildlife that would be immense. They'd be on their way to restoring wildlife in the UK.

[00:42:39]>> Anything's possible as long as you put your mind to it because if the Emeralds didn't put their minds to it then this wouldn't have happened.

[00:42:50]This project is a prime example of what everyone can do up and down the country.

[00:42:54]It harnesses the enthusiasm and the determination of the younger generation to really tackle and be involved in some of these big environmental issues.

[00:43:08]But as you can see, the poppies have come through.

[00:43:11]This field was absolutely bright red earlier on in the season. You've got pretty much every color in the rainbow, and it's wonderful. the sea of color, the diversity. And that's what it is.

[00:43:20]It's about creating that diversity.

[00:43:24]When I come to walks along here with the children, you really notice on a warm day just the vast amount of insects that are here and the birds coming and going, taking the insects off the field.

[00:43:35]So nice.

[00:43:39]Two years ago, Prince William made it his personal mission to find ways to protect the natural world for future generations.

[00:43:50]This is where the hall belongs. That's where it should stay.

[00:43:54]>> And how effective communities can be at pulling together to get things done.

[00:43:59]>> Every single life rhino that you see is good news. But we don't want to see one animal. We want to see hundreds.

[00:44:08]>> It's a recognized face.

[00:44:10]>> Sir David's wise words have rung true.

[00:44:14]I mean, kids know an awful lot now about ecology and about what's happening to the world.

[00:44:20]>> Why are bees so important?

[00:44:22]>> Because because like they create 75 >> 5% of our food chain.

[00:44:28]>> Young people are spearheading the action we need. And their voice has grown louder, spared on by the most famous of them.

[00:44:37]>> What Greta has done is really quite interesting. People were desperate for someone to come along. Thank goodness there's somebody there with the young voice being active.

[00:44:46]>> But Prince William has discovered plenty more unsung heroes and heroins.

[00:44:51]>> You guys should be so proud of yourselves what you've done. Um and I can see you two are a force for good that no one's going to mess with.

[00:44:57]>> Thank you so much.

[00:44:58]>> These young children doing these bug palaces in Liverpool, the girls up in Aleppool saving the coast.

[00:45:06]I owe it to them to help their voices be heard.

[00:45:11]We are the generation who are going to inherit this planet. It's really really vital that we are the ones who make some of the decisions.

[00:45:19]>> That generational gap has to be bridged somehow so that the older political leaders understand that the younger generation mean business. They want their futures protected. I feel it is my duty and our collective responsibility to leave our planet in a stronger position for our children.

[00:45:37]adults should stop and just watching it happen and help us cuz they've done it all.

[00:45:42]>> We've seen from coronavirus organizations like like something we've never seen before. The research collaboration that's going on around the world, the sharing of expertise >> the money found by governments to support people through this economic turmoil. These are big deals.

[00:46:02]If we can provide the same motivation with the environment, we have truly turned a corner. We need to make sure that all the investment that goes in from now on comes back in a green fashion. We need to build back greener because I think the younger generations will not stand for saying that it's not possible. It it clearly is.

[00:46:23]>> Don't be lazy lemons. Get up and do something.

[00:46:29]As we've seen from CO 19, the world can act when it needs to act. So why won't it?

[00:46:39]We can't just sit on our laurels and say, "Oh, you know, it's someone else's problem. We'll get fixed down the line."

[00:46:44]We all need to take our turn to take our responsibility and and um push forwards with this where we can. And the oyster catches are telling us the same thing, too.

[00:47:15]Heat. Heat.