[ad_1]
Copyright 2022 Royal Hashemite Court
Queen Rania of Jordan called for optimism in the face of the climate crisis at a virtual foreign policy summit.
The Queen spoke to climate leaders via a prerecorded video at Foreign Policy Virtual Climate Summit.
Queen Rania said there is an “alarming threat” to the planet caused by accelerating global warming. She stressed the need for an “urgent optimism” to inspire people “as the spark that ignites collective action and drives transformation.”
She spoke out about her concern about feedback loops that accelerate global warming, including atmospheric methane. The Queen said: “But there’s another kind of feedback loop that also deserves our attention—one that I believe will make or break our climate future. They’re not chemical or physical. They’re in our heads and in our hearts. These feedback loops are human.”
She praised young people’s passion for the environment. The Queen added: “If people don’t believe anything can be done, it’s easy to simply do nothing. Paralysis can make our problems worse and lead to more despair. But here’s the good news. We’re not there yet.”
Queen Rania later spoke out about her role in the Earthshot Prize council. She said: “When we’re determined to succeed, that’s when game-changing creativity kicks in… You see that spirit in every one of the other Earthshot finalists and winners. Their efforts may seem small compared to the magnitude of the problem. But that doesn’t stop them because they, like you, see themselves as part of a generational project.”
The Queen ended her speech by praising those who are fighting climate change.
“By making a difference in whatever way they can, they aim to inspire others to act,” she said. “In this way, climate leaders like these are creating a feedback loop we can celebrate. One that runs on urgent optimism, a sense of possibility, and the faith that, together, we can make things better – which is why we have to try,” she said.
Her Majesty spoke during the two-day event, which is aimed to advance scalable strategies to combat climate change. She spoke alongside world leaders like Jacinda Adern, New Zealand Prime Minister, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon or John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Representative for Climate Change.
