Prince William's Environmental Mission in South Africa

Prince William, 42, is heading to South Africa for an important visit, focusing on environmental issues and global warming. He's not just talking about it; he's also hosting a big event called the Earthshot Prize. This prize gives money to five groups that come up with clever ideas to help the environment. It's like a reward for doing good for the planet. During his four-day trip to Cape Town, he'll chat with young people who care about the environment and local fishermen. He'll also go to a wildlife summit and check out a sea rescue center. The main event is the Earthshot awards ceremony on Wednesday night. This is where he'll hand out $1. 2 million to the winning groups. Prince William has a strong connection to Africa. He's been there many times, including after his mom, Princess Diana, died. He and his wife, Kate, even got engaged at a wildlife conservancy in Kenya. That's where he came up with the idea for the Earthshot awards. Kate and their kids won't be joining him on this trip. Kate just got back to her public duties after some health issues. Prince Harry, William's brother, was just in South Africa and Lesotho for a youth charity. The Earthshot Prize was started in 2020 to find new ways to solve environmental problems. This year's ceremony is special because it's in Africa. William wants to inspire young people across the continent to take action against climate change. Africa has lots of people, but it doesn't cause much global warming. However, it's really feeling the effects of climate change right now. The awards are given in five areas: protecting nature, cleaning the air, saving the oceans, reducing waste, and fixing the climate. Some of the finalists this year are helping to protect forests in Ecuador and save endangered animals in Kazakhstan. The ceremony will be held in a big, reusable dome next to a sports stadium in Cape Town. After the awards, the dome will be packed up and used again somewhere else. Besides talking about climate change, Prince William will also visit a high school in Cape Town. He'll join the kids for a rugby practice. Rugby is a big deal in South Africa, and Prince William likes it too.