Prince Harry receives prestigious new accolade as Prince William snubbed in stinging blow
Prince Harry has been named as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential leaders driving climate action for 2024.
The Duke of Sussex was recognised for his groundbreaking environmental tourism initiative Travalyst.
Harry was included in the prestigious “Titan” category alongside Bill Gates and the King of Bhutan in TIME’s second annual climate leaders list, unveiled on 12 November.
The 40-year-old royal was celebrated for making tourism more sustainable through Travalyst, a non-profit organisation that helps travellers make environmentally conscious choices by providing emissions and sustainability data during the booking process.
The Prince of Wales did not make the list despite his work with The Earthshot Prize.
Prince William founded the initiative and attended the fourth annual awards ceremony last week.
Prince Harry’s journey towards founding Travalyst began during a pivotal 2012 Caribbean trip, where a conversation with a seven-year-old boy about England’s impact on coral reefs sparked his environmental awakening.
The initiative comes at a crucial time, as tourism currently accounts for approximately 11 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Travalyst, whose name combines ‘travel’ and ‘catalyst’, was established whilst Harry was still a working royal and has continued since his relocation to California in 2020.
The organisation aims to tackle the industry’s substantial carbon footprint by empowering travellers to make more environmentally conscious decisions during the booking process.
In 2022, Travalyst partnered with Google to develop the free Travel Impact Model, enabling passengers to view predicted carbon dioxide emissions for their flights.
The collaboration has proven remarkably successful, with Travalyst’s flight emissions data now appearing in more than 65 billion searches globally as of September.
The initiative has attracted an impressive roster of partners, including major industry players such as Expedia Group, Mastercard, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor and Visa.
Through these partnerships, Travalyst has significantly expanded its reach in helping travellers make more sustainable choices when planning their journeys.
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Speaking at Travalyst’s fifth-anniversary event in New York City this September, Prince Harry outlined his vision for the future of sustainable tourism.
The Duke of Sussex said: “Tourism has the potential to make an incredible difference if we channel it with good intentions.”
He emphasised the industry’s projected growth, noting it is “expected to rep nearly 11.4 percent of the global economy by 2033.”
Harry added: “At Travalyst, we’re committed to creating a tourism industry that works for everyone, not just those sitting in board rooms or on faraway islands.”