For more than fifty years, His Majesty The King has used his unique position to champion action for a sustainable future for future generations.
In the context of global challenges that include climate change, deforestation, and ocean pollution, His Majesty The King has promoted sustainability to ensure that the natural assets upon which we all depend among other things soil, water, forests, a stable climate and fish stocks endure for future generations.
His Majesty The King's sustainability work is based on the principle that environmental challenges in our increasingly interconnected world are best met by adopting integrated and holistic approaches to sustainability.
In January 2020, His Majesty launched his Sustainable Markets Initiative at Davos. In May 2020, His Majesty launched #TheGreatReset, an initiative that aims to rebuild, redesign, reinvigorate and rebalance our world by supporting businesses and communities to ‘build back better' and putting sustainable business practices at the heart of their operations as they begin to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
In September, His Majesty The King launched RE:TV for Climate Week 2020. RE:TV is a new global platform for compelling films and articles by the Sustainable Markets Initiative.
In Australia, The Trust has partnered with local organisations to support His Majesty The King's sustainability initiatives.
Between 2017 - 2019, The Trust collaborated with Greenfleet Australia and the Disney Corporation ANZ to help shape a better understanding and more harmonious existence with the natural environment in Bundaberg. During nesting season, light glow from nearby residences adversely impacted the endangered Loggerhead turtle.
The Low Glow collaboration engaged international best practice, including Disney sea turtle expert Dr. Blair Witherington, and ultimately expanded the partnership to include the Bundaberg Regional Council, the Sea Turtle Alliance and Bundaberg North Burnett Tourism.
In April 2018, His Majesty The King visited Bundaberg to discuss the Low Glow project and its contribution to Great Barrier Reef conservation efforts. This included a visit to Lady Elliot Island to convene a cross-sector "reef roundtable" in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and attended by The Irwin Family.
Since 2019, Bundaberg Regional Council have been managing the Low Glow project after receiving support from the Low Glow collaboration for its Smart Cities Grant. The Council are implementing a digital urban glow light map, allowing residents and tourists to assess the artificial light glow from their own homes at night and change habits during nesting season.
The King's Trust Australia is also a founding partner of the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, a digital platform empowering the global community to commit to working together to save one of the world's most important natural assets.
The Prince of Wales Environmental Leadership Reef Sustainability Award recognises the exemplary efforts of an individual or farming enterprise in rehabilitation and/or restoration projects to improve the environment and quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef.
Since 2008, agricultural industry groups, regional natural resource management bodies, rural land managers and the Australian Government have been working together to implement enhanced land management practices that improve the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon.
The Reef Alliance Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements and efforts of outstanding individuals who have participated in the Australian Government Reef Programme and/or Reef Trust Initiative.
2022 Award Winner: Tony Rossi
2019 Award Winner: Lenny Parisi
2018 Award Winner: Gerry Deguara
2017 Award Winner: Frank & Dianne Sciacca
