Prince Harry launches initiative to tackle travel industry’s impact on climate

Prince Harry is partnering with travel companies in a sustainability initiative unveiled Tuesday. 

The initiative, called Travalyst, focuses on the travel industry’s impact on climate change, as well as improving wildlife conservation and finding ways to better protect the environment in popular tourist spots, The Associated Press reports. 

“As tourism inevitably grows, it is critically important to accelerate the adoptions of sustainable practices worldwide and to balance this growth with the needs of the environment and the local population,” the prince said in a statement shared with the AP. {mosads}

“Bringing companies, consumers and communities together is our best chance to protect destinations and ecosystems for future generations.” 

Partner companies reportedly include Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Visa, Ctrip and Skyscanner. 

The announcement follows criticism Harry and his wife Meghan, who are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, respectively, received after the royal couple, who are outspoken figures on environmental issues, used private jets for trips to the south of France and Ibiza, Spain, just days apart. 

The prince traveled to Amsterdam on a commercial flight to unveil the new initiative, CNN reports. 

He also addressed his private jet use in a question and answer session. 

He reportedly said he spends “99 percent” of his life traveling commercial, but “occasionally there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe.” 

“We are all responsible for our own individual impact,” he said, and added that “we can all do better.”