The Duke of Sussex has spoken passionately about the environment on day four of his visit to southern Africa. As he planted trees with schoolchildren on the first stop in Botswana, Prince Harry said that the science explaining climate change couldn’t be denied by anyone, including world leaders.

The Duke of Sussex made specific references to the wave of recent protest movements by young people demanding action on the environment. He had particular words of support for the actions of teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg, who was also named as one of the ‘Forces for Change’ in the September edition of British Vogue edited by the Duchess of Sussex. As he planted trees with young people in Chobe Forest Tree Reserve, Harry said ‘‘this last week, led by Greta, the world’s children are striking. It’s a race against time and one which we are losing – everyone knows it, there’s no excuse for not knowing that”.

The prince went on to say ”I think the most troubling part of it is that I don’t believe there is anybody in this world that can deny science, undeniable science and facts. Science and facts that have been around for the last 30, maybe 40 years…I genuinely don’t understand how anyone in this world…you, us, children, leaders….no one can deny science otherwise we are living in a very, very troubling world”.

Harry’s words came at the start of a busy day in Botswana which will also see him dedicate a new part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. The area of forest to be celebrated today spans Botwana’s borders with three other countries – Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Duke of Sussex will then head to Angola where he will join a demining camp to see the ongoing work against land mines.

His time in Angola will also see him visit the stretch of land that his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, walked along in January 1997 as she began her campaign to highlight the dangers of landmines and bring about change to ban the weapons for good.