Energy Zero: Prince and Princess of Wales

December 28, 2022

Our next energy zeros reached new heights of popularity this year, but their climate efforts fell flat. It’s Prince William and Princess Kate. In November, the couple were the center piece of a climate award gala in Boston. The event had much pomp and circumstance, and they plan to give out awards for climate innovation and renewable energy soon. The problem? The policies they’re promoting have resulted in rampant child labor in Africa and empowered China.

The renewable energy sources the prince and princess are pushing rely on critical minerals like cobalt. That largely comes from mines in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Wilson Center concluded that 40,000 children work in these mines and are effectively slaves. To make matters much worse, the supply chains of these critical minerals are dominated by China and enrich Beijing. 

The prince and princess are giving out awards for what they call an “Earthshot” (a play on Kennedy’s moonshot). But they’re ignoring one of the greatest crimes happening on Earth because of the technologies they’re promoting. The British empire has had a very checkered history when it comes to exploiting others. This royal couple should think hard about if this climate effort is most important human cause right now. For their climate award, Will and Kate are PTF Energy Zeros of 2022.