'100 months to save the planet (Charles)'

[izzix]

Prince Charles: 100 months to save the world
The Prince of Wales is to issue a stark warning that nations have "less than 100 months to act" to save the planet from irreversible damage due to climate change.


By Andrew Alderson, Chief Reporter
Last Updated: 12:28PM GMT 08 Mar 2009
Prince Charles - Prince Charles: 100 months to save the world
The Prince of Wales will warn that a failure to act in the next eight years will have catastrophic effects for the planet Photo: AP

Prince Charles will say that the need to tackle global warming is more urgent than ever before and that, even in a global recession, the world must not lose sight of the "bigger picture".

His warning will be delivered on Thursday in a keynote speech in Rio de Janeiro.

Aides believe it will echo one he gave in Sao Paulo in 1991 at the start of the last recession, when he warned that caring for the world's long term welfare must not become a "luxury".

The intervention will help to put the environment at the top of the political agenda ahead of the meeting of G20 leaders in London next month.

The Prince starts a ten-day tour of South America today during which he will be playing an elevated role as an international statesman working on behalf of the Government to support British interests on key issues.

Senior sources have revealed that Gordon Brown's Government wants to make more use on the foreign stage of Prince Charles's experience, expertise and contacts, particularly on climate change.

Government officials believe that the Prince's passion to protect the environment is hugely respected abroad and that he can play an increasing important role as he inevitably moves closer to becoming individual.

Some believe he is an "asset" that has been underused in the past and they want to use him more in a role of "soft diplomacy".

In Thursday's speech, the Prince will warn that a failure to act in the next eight years will have catastrophic effects for the planet.

In the country that is home to the world's largest rainforest, Prince Charles will urge world unity to combat deforestation in the run-up to the UN conference on climate change in Copenhagen in December this year.

He will say there is not necessarily a clash between the needs of big business and the environment. He will argue that being green can be good for businesses and can create jobs.

The Prince will say that tackling deforestation in the 3.5 billion acres of rainforest on the planet is a key priority.

According to royal aides, Prince Charles will tell business leaders that he is in South America to "listen and learn" and that he believes that Brazil and other neighbouring countries must lead the way in moves to save the rainforests.

The Prince will also visit the Amazon rainforest, the world's largest rainforest, on Saturday.

The Prince's tour to Chile, Brazil and Ecuador (including the Galapagos Islands), when he will be accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, will see a greater emphasis than ever before on him becoming involved in talks with prime ministers, presidents and senior politicians, in a move aimed at promoting British interests abroad.

It is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), not the Prince himself, which chooses the location for his royal tours and South America is considered the ideal platform for his views.

One Government source said: "The Prince's visit to South America is very much in tune with the priorities that we have.

"Given both the Prince's position as a future head of state and his personal commitment to protecting the environment, we believe he can have a real impact abroad"

In a possible sign of his elevated role, Prince Charles will meet Barack Obama when the new US President comes to Britain next month for the G20 London summit.

They will meet at, or even before, a Buckingham Palace reception when the Prince is expected to raise climate change issues with the President.

Royal aides have welcomed the opportunity for the Prince to expand his role on behalf of the Government. One senior official said: "It could be argued that he has already established a role as an international statesman, especially on green issues.

"This is one of the reasons why Government has asked him to go to South America. He will be conducting Government business and one of his roles is to support the UK's environmental objectives."

This is the major royal overseas tour for the first half of the year. He will be meeting the presidents and heads of governments in each of the three countries for talks.

"In Chile and Brazil, he will host a "round table" meeting for corporate leaders aimed at encouraging businesses to do more to tackle climate change.

"This is about soft diplomacy," said a senior aide. "The Prince of Wales is not a politician who sits down with a world leader and hammers out an agreement.

"But what he can do is show support and get over the message that Britain wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with these countries in the fight against climate change, and bring his own experience and knowledge to bear."

Courtiers at Clarence House dislike suggestions that the Prince of Wales, who was 60 last year, is a "shadow individual" keen to take on duties from his mother, who is 82.

However, one Government source said: "There is no plan for Prince to take over specific duties from the Queen but common sense dictates that as she gets older her diary will be tailored accordingly."

The Prince is likely eventually to take on more of the long, arduous overseas tours stand in for her at more investitures.

One senior FCO official said: "We are hugely supportive of this visit. The Prince's commitment to sustainable development is very much in line with one of our main priorities.

"The Prince's visit will advance that agenda in terms of both UK interests and the engagement of other countries in pursuing it.

"The real personal commitment that Prince Charles has to environmental issues and his interest in sustainable development really resonates with people, both at Government level and ordinary individuals."

[izzix]

all those in LOS come back in 8 years and tell us what differences you have noticed

[Prenders88]

I'll take him seriously when he sets an example and swaps his Aston Martin Vantage for a Toyota Prius.

[747man]

I'll take him seriously when he sets an example and swaps his Aston Martin Vantage for a Toyota Prius.

Or A Bicycle and Bicycle clips

[Irish Alan]

He does have some taste though.

[wazza]

There was a good story in the UK press on HRH attending this confernce and delivering his speech.

He is taking his Falcon private jet, and 15 odd persons of special interest, etc

The press then identified the carbon footprint this plane will leave once it returns to UK.

hypocrite !

Probably had 2 farriers on board if he took his lady, and needs shodding every now an then

[beer monkey]

Is that the FA cup that Liverpool Mug is holding...?

We Luv Ya really Charlie...

[jackspratt]

How so a hypocrite, wazza?

I can't be bothered reading the long cut and paste, but does Charlie say anywhere that people shouldn't fly, either in private transport, or by public aircraft.

He is the future individual of England (whatever your thoughts on that), and as such I would not expect him to be traveling on BA724 from London to Rio.

As with Al Gore, there is great value in having high profile "personalities" delivering public messages about global warming/climate change - which BTW, Charlie has been doing for a long time.

[BKKSTAN]

IMO,It is all a bunch of blather!We can make the World cleaner and healthier,but I do not believe we can buck natue and ''save the Planet''!

[cali4995]

Prince Charles does seem like a vastly better choice of spokesperson than Al Gore.
Who incidentally does the same thing, show-up at speaking engagements with a
convoy of stretch limousines. I mean really, if there was ever a time to just bicycle.

[BKKSTAN]

Yeah,but he is royalty!Don't you know how important that is???I don't

[BobHelm]

If ever there was a case of a need to use technology to get a "green" message across then this & Al Gore are it.
What is wrong with "video conferencing" ?? Charles & Al can stay in their castles without the need for private jets & troops of staff & security.
How can these "personalities" expect the business world to take the message and alternatives seriously when they are falling back on the very systems of work that they are complaining about.
Rings a bit of "do as I say, not as I do" which always gets my back up....
Personally I do believe that the world needs to change its attitude but "high profilers" would be better off leading by example rather than by preaching....

[Aardvark]

In his defense, Prince Charles does do a lot of good for the environment through his Estates and has been growing and promoting Organic food for many years. I would suggest that his Carbon footprint is some what smaller than Mr Gore's

[old-timer]

Personally I do believe that the world needs to change its attitude

yes indeed so, i heard some professor/scientist on bbc world news the other day seriously claiming
that the population could well be down to about one billion in just a matter of another decade and
there is scientific evidence to back it up. this sort of ties in with what prince charles is saying.
but as individuals what are we doing about it? nothing much i expect, i'm sure that global warming
is going to suddenly come along and punch the worlds population in the gob.
BTW, two other things, firstly i've checked my footprint and it's atrocious entirely due to air
travel, just a flight or two put's you as a high individual contributor to global warming,
secondly, i never read all of the cut and paste of the OP so if i've repeated anything so be it.

[Irish Alan]

In his defense, Prince Charles does do a lot of good for the environment through his Estates and has been growing and promoting Organic food for many years. I would suggest that his Carbon footprint is some what smaller than Mr Gore's

ALSO... How many time do you see Al Gore in a horse and carriage?

[LoongLee]

Al gore has become so stout he could pull the carriage,,,,, he needs to back away from the table and leave some food for the world's hungry.

Here's a look at the true picture of Mr Gore,,, environmentalist. http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp

I'd trust Prince Charles and his record of many years trying to accomplish positive results on the estates he's involved with over Al Gore anyday.