Prince William hosted an event of global business leaders and tech bosses in London and he issued some advice to the CEOs. The platform leaders have committed to ending wildlife trafficking on their platforms. Talking about environmental issues, Prince William urged the CEOs to “be the leader you wanted to be when you were growing up” in a plea to try and reverse the planet’s environmental problems.

At the launch of London Climate Action Week, the Prince of Wales convened a forum of major tech bosses – including Google, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, Alibaba, Baidu, eBay, Etsy, and Pinterest, to announce a commitment for the first time to end wildlife trafficking on their platforms. Speaking on behalf of the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife, William spoke of his optimism for the future, but also said more needed to be done to help battle climate change and wildlife degradation.

The event took place at the Frameless exhibition near Marble Arch. The future king was joined by actors and environmentalists Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Prince William told the global business leaders to be “more ambitious and courageous” in their actions to help the environment and “be the leader you wanted to be when you were growing up”.

Asked by host June Sarpong what is the one argument CEOs should be making to their boards, William said: “That is a tricky one, there are several arguments that they should be making. But I think one particular thing is about the idea that this is going to make your business.”

The prince went on to praise the pioneering innovators involved in his Earthshot Prize awards who have given him optimism for the future.

At a gathering of leading environmentalists and tech bosses brought in London, the Prince of Wales said their planet saving solutions “keep my environmental anxiety at bay” and “helps me sleep at night”.

Speaking to the company bosses, he said: “You have the power to influence, your voice matters in your business, your direction matters and here more than anything, your leadership matters.

“Many of you can be more ambitious and courageous in what you do for the planet and for the environment.”

He added: “Be the leader you wanted to be when you were growing up, not the one you are in the business right now.

“Touch into what you were when you were a child and what you wanted to see the world, and bring those values to light as a CEO.

“More specifically, technology and innovation, we are seeing such a change in that, please embrace that for good.”