Britain’s King Charles III has urged young people in the Bahamas to take an active role in building a sustainable future, warning that climate change poses a serious threat to the low-lying island nation.
Addressing a youth gathering at Clifford Park in Nassau on Tuesday, the British monarch highlighted the vulnerability of the Bahamas to rising sea levels, noting that about 90 per cent of its land lies less than two metres above sea level.
Charles called on young people to embrace innovation and environmental responsibility, stressing the importance of developing solutions that would protect communities and support future generations.
“I have spent more than 50 years trying to help young people across the Commonwealth to innovate, prosper and thrive in harmony with nature,” he said, urging them to contribute to building “truly sustainable futures”.
The king’s address also reflected on the Bahamas’ history and his longstanding connection with the country. He recalled visiting Clifford Park in 1973, when he represented his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at celebrations marking the Bahamas’ independence.
He praised the talent emerging from the islands, highlighting achievements in sports, sailing, climate science and the performing arts.
Charles also acknowledged the historical injustices and suffering experienced by people in the Bahamas and elsewhere, saying it was important to recognise the past while creating opportunities for the future.
His remarks placed young people at the centre of the country’s development prospects, with an emphasis on harnessing their skills and creativity to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable growth.
The Bahamas, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, is particularly exposed to climate-related risks because of its low-lying geography. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events pose challenges to its communities, infrastructure and economy.
Charles’s engagement with young people formed part of his wider focus on youth development and environmental sustainability across the Commonwealth, an association of countries of which the Bahamas is a member.
