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Prince William: We put man on the moon - we can repair our planet

Seven years before it happened, JFK told the US Congress that man would be on the moon within a decade. Prince William says "I have the same faith" for climate action.

Sunday 4 December 2022 04:19, UK

Astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin walks on the moon July 20, 1969, photographed by fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong, who said of the landing by Apollo II crew "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind". Footprints on the lunar dust are visible on the lower left of the picture. 1994 marks the 25th anniversary of man's first walk on the moon
Image: Astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin walks on the moon 20 July 1969, photographed by fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong
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The Prince of Wales says he has the same faith the world can "repair and regenerate our planet" as when John F Kennedy said he believed man could land on the moon.

William described the current time as a "critical decade" in trying to overcome the destruction of unique habitats, and the pollution of the atmosphere and oceans.

Speaking during a film aired at the ceremony in Boston for his Earthshot Prize, which honours environmental pioneers, he said: "From Moonshot to Earthshot, the seemingly unsolvable can be solved."

The Prince of Wales at the second annual Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway, in Boston, Massachusetts, during which the 2022 winners will be unveiled. Picture date: Friday December 2, 2022.
Image: The Prince of Wales at the second annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. Pic: AP

In May 1961, President Kennedy declared to Congress the goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

Seven years later, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the moon.

During the film William says: "Earth holds such splendour and gives us many things - beauty, curiosity, joy, and most importantly, earth gives us life.

"For too long, many of us have taken for granted everything our planet gives us.

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"We have polluted our atmosphere and our oceans, and have destroyed many unique habitats.

"This year, we have seen the influence of climate change like never before with record high temperatures and extreme weather events causing devastation across every continent, affecting people's health and livelihoods."

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President John F. Kennedy is shown during his address before a joint session of Congress in Washington, May 25, 1961. The president urged congressional approval of additional funds to bolster space, foreign aid and defense programs. (AP Photo)
Image: President John F Kennedy during his address before Congress in Washington in 1961. Pic: AP

Ebbing away

William continued: "The urgency needed to save the planet is ever accelerating, while the time we have to make meaningful changes is ebbing away.

"But just as President John F Kennedy had faith that humankind could put a man on the moon, I have the same faith today that we can repair and regenerate our planet in this critical decade.

"From Moonshot to Earthshot, the seemingly unsolvable can be solved."

The Earthshot finalists are seeking solutions that will protect and restore nature, revive the oceans, clean air, build a waste-free world and fix the climate.

William said their "ambition and innovation" will "help put the world on a path towards a stable climate, where communities, nature, and oceans thrive in harmony".

He added: "Together we can achieve a sustainable future for generations to come.

"Together, we will change the future of our planet."

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