🔗 Share this article The Prince of William Set for UN Climate Summit in South America Prince William is scheduled to join the key UN climate summit in the South American nation next month, but the PM's attendance is still undecided. The Prince is set to award the prestigious climate innovation prize and attend the conference of officials from more than 190 countries in Belém. Climate Specialists Applaud Prince William's Participation Environmental experts applauded the prince's participation. An environmental strategist commented that it would lift what is expected to be a difficult summit, where world consensus on fresh goals for reducing carbon emissions is required. "Is Prince William presence at the summit a stunt? Yes. But it doesn't imply it's a bad idea," she commented. "The summit has historically been as much about so-called 'optics' as it is about negotiations. The Prince's announcement will probably inspire other delegates to commit, and will attract international press." "It's likely the Prince understands clearly that by attending, he'll attract numerous of viewers to the event. In an era when global warming consequences are growing, but news reporting is falling, anything that highlights the issue should be welcomed." Royal Attendance at Past Cops The monarch has been present at earlier UN summits, but is not attend in this one. Support from Climate Organizations A leader from a climate research unit said: "Full participation is needed – and any influential person like Prince William, in attendance assisting argue for the complex job that needs doing, is almost certainly a good thing." "The monarch] was the Prince of Wales when he attended Cop26 and pitched in to motivate discussions. I would argue it necessarily needs the two royals to attend." PM's Attendance Remains Unconfirmed The PM has not yet said whether he will attend the conference, to which all world leaders are asked, with numerous set to attend. The leader was widely condemned by influential environmental voices for seeming hesitant on the choice in recent weeks. "International representatives should be in Brazil for the climate conference. Attendance is not merely symbolic, it is a demonstration of responsibility. This is the time to lock in more ambitious national commitments and the resources to deliver them, especially for adaptation" to the impacts of the environmental emergency. "The world is observing, and history will note who participated."