Queen Elizabeth II urged world leaders Monday at the COP26 climate summit “to recognize that the time for words has now moved to the time for action" on reducing carbon emissions.
The 95-year-old delivered her message via video as a recent health scare has prompted doctors to advise her to rest and refrain from doing official visits in the next two weeks.
Though she was not physically present at the summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Queen Elizabeth reinforced the importance of achieving “true statesmanship” and creating a safer world for “for our children and our children’s children.”
"It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit — written in history books yet to be printed — will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity, and that you answered the call of those future generations," she said.
“Of course, the benefits of such actions will not be there to enjoy for all of us here today: none of us will live forever. But we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children, and those who will follow in their footsteps."
Queen Elizabeth also paid tribute to her husband Prince Philip, who died earlier this year at age 99. She talked about how he advocated for climate action in 1969, focusing on issues surrounding pollution.
"It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet, lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them," Queen Elizabeth said.
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are both attending the COP26 conference.
Queen Elizabeth had participated almost daily in official engagements until her stay this month at the private Edward VII hospital in London for "preliminary investigations."
She was seen Monday driving her car at Windsor Castle, easing global concerns around her health.
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