HRH The Prince of Wales established the International Sustainability Unit to facilitate consensus on how to resolve some of the key environmental challenges facing the world – such as food security, ecosystem resilience and the depletion of Natural Capital.
HRH’s International Sustainability Unit was formed in 2010 to address critical challenges to development and the environment. The I.S.U. builds on the success of The Prince’s Rainforests Project, established to find a solution to tropical deforestation, which resulted in international commitments of US$5 billion for immediate financing. The I.S.U. has since implemented programmes focusing on natural capital and resilience, with strands covering food, water and energy security; resource scarcity and depletion as potential conflict multipliers; preventing and reversing deforestation; responsible agricultural investment; and the Illegal Trade in Wildlife. Further programmes address finance for sustainable development, to deliver the outcomes of the international negotiations on development goals and climate change due in 2015; and also sustainable marine fisheries. Work has recently commenced on Sustainable Urbanisation. Considerable success has been achieved in these areas and the I.S.U. has built an international reputation for credible, trusted and neutral convening that is underpinned by well researched and rigorous analysis, and broad consultation with key actors from governments, the private sector and civil society.
