Prince William has issued a powerful call for urgent global action to safeguard the world’s oceans, warning that their deterioration presents a challenge “like none we have ever faced before.” Speaking at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco, the Prince of Wales urged governments, investors, and communities to act boldly at all levels to preserve marine ecosystems.
In a bilingual address delivered in both English and French at Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum, Prince William stressed the oceans’ vital role in sustaining life on Earth. “Healthy oceans generate half of the world’s oxygen, regulate our climate, and provide food for over three billion people,” he said.
With rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and overfishing endangering marine life, the Prince highlighted the growing disconnect between the health of our oceans and everyday awareness. “All too often, it can feel distant and disconnected,” he noted. “We must realise the potential of the blue economy—for our ecosystems, our economies, and our communities.”
The speech comes ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, where leaders will discuss the role of oceans in global trade, food security, and clean energy. Prince William’s participation reflects his long-term environmental commitment through the Earthshot Prize, which awards £1 million each to five innovative solutions tackling the planet’s biggest climate challenges.
Several Earthshot Prize winners and finalists were present at the event, including Enric Sala of National Geographic’s Pristine Seas project, a 2021 finalist and key contributor to Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary Oceans. Prince William described the film as “the most compelling argument for immediate action I have ever seen.”
“Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts is heartbreaking,” he said. “It can no longer be a matter of ‘out of sight, out of mind.’”
Concluding his speech, Prince William quoted Sir David: “If we save the sea, we save our world.” Kensington Palace described the address as a “landmark intervention” aimed at mobilising investment and policy change to scale up ocean solutions.
While in southern France, Prince William also met with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Prince Albert II of Monaco—an ardent supporter of ocean conservation. He is expected to join a closed-door session with ocean experts and investors during his visit.
