The Congo Basin at COP 26: A message from Prince Michael of Kent

Here is the full text of his message:

"Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

At COP 22 in 2016 in Marrakech, His Excellency Denis Sassou N'Guesso, President of the Republic of Congo, announced the launch of a large-scale initiative to preserve the Congo Basin.

In 2017 in Oyo, I had the pleasure of attending the signing of the memorandum creating the Congo Basin Blue Fund by ten African heads of state and government.

Today, this visionary idea has been transformed into a sustainable, concrete and efficient solution, a programmatic and financial instrument available to 16 countries in the Congo Basin, with the support of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The Brazzaville Foundation, which I've been supporting since 2015, is behind this project. It made me aware of the enormous potential of the Congo Basin, the planet's second lung and leading carbon sink.

Preserving the Congo Basin is a global challenge for mitigating the effects of climate change, and an African challenge for protecting the biodiversity of the great forests and the river, and ensuring the well-being of local populations.

In the wake of the Paris Agreements, COP 26 is an essential event for raising awareness of the realities of climate change.

Like Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I believe that in this matter it is better to act than to simply talk. That is why I would like to congratulate all those who have acted within the Congo Basin Climate Commission to finalise this great project.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I invite you to support the development of concrete actions at global and African level, and to continue to champion the cause of the Congo Basin.

Welcome to COP26 in Glasgow.