Prince Harry made a solo trip to New York City this week, engaging in a series of charitable and philanthropic activities, including his work with Travalyst, a program focused on improving sustainability in tourism.
During a panel discussion, he was joined by Aditi Mohapatra, Vice President of Global Social Impact and Sustainability at Expedia Group, who shared her admiration for Prince Harry’s dedication to using his platform for positive change.
Aditi praised Harry’s leadership, saying, “His support and leadership for this organization is truly amazing. His public endorsement brings much-needed visibility and leadership to encourage action from the top.”
The panel also featured Travalyst CEO Sally Davey and Google’s Managing Director of Global Business Development, Gianni Marostica, and discussed how businesses can revolutionize travel to reduce the industry’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, which stands at 11%.
Aditi added that many people struggle to understand their role in addressing climate change, but Travalyst’s mission is to simplify sustainable travel choices for individuals and push the industry towards meaningful action. Despite skepticism, she remains optimistic, stating that the travel industry is making strides toward sustainability and is beginning to take climate change more seriously.
Earlier in the day, Prince Harry made a powerful appearance at the Clinton Global Initiative, where he delivered a speech on the challenges posed by the digital world.
During the session titled Everything Everywhere All At Once, he emotionally shared how children who had lost their lives due to social media had inspired Archewell Foundation’s Parents Network, a support group for parents affected by online harm.
In a touching moment, Harry took out his phone and said, “My lock screen is a picture of my kids. What’s yours?” as images of children lost to social media harm were displayed behind him.
The Duke also attended an event with The Halo Trust, an organization focused on clearing landmines and explosives left behind by conflict.
Reflecting on his role as a father, Harry said, “While you don’t need to have children to care about the future of the planet, I know my mother would have been horrified that anyone’s children or grandchildren still live in a world infested with mines.”
Harry’s continued commitment to global causes demonstrates his drive to make a difference, whether through advocating for sustainability or tackling the perils of the online world.
