Prince Charles: window of opportunity to tackle climate change ‘rapidly narrowing’

Prince Charles has spoken out about his concerns around climate change action and warned that natural disasters like Typhoon Haiyan will become more frequent.

Speaking at an event at the Royal Society of London, the prince said, “Before us we have a rapidly narrowing window of opportunity – as individuals, as governments, companies, nations, and as an international community – to act with the scale and urgency needed to undertake the transition towards a radically more sustainable and resilient long-term global economic model.”

He added that the issue required “bold and decisive action” across all sectors, both public and private, in order to have an impact.

The prince also mentioned Typhoon Haiyan, which killed over 10,000 people in the Philippines earlier this month and will have a negative effect on the country’s economic growth for years to come.

“The devastating impact of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines should have surely been a poignant and telling reminder of the intimacy and interdependence of man’s relationship with the natural world”, he said.

He added that natural disasters could become more frequent due to complications caused by an “inability to take the necessary action”.

The prince has long taken an interest in and campaigned for green issues. He has regularly spoken about the long-term effects of climate change and the need for action.

The international community faces an “enormous challenge” between now and 2015 in order to negotiate a new set of highly ambitious sustainable development goals, added the Prince. UN climate talks are currently underway in Warsaw, Poland, with the aim of creating a legally binding global climate treaty.

Step Up To Serve, an organisation that aims to get young people involved in social action, has also received backing from the prince, along with the leaders of the three main political parties. The pledges through the initiative include the Cabinet Office committing to involve young people in the working of at least 30 public service mutuals.

Further reading:

Charles at 65: Prince of Wales, future king and environmentalist

Prince Charles: our countryside is as precious as out cathedrals

Prince Charles: pensions industry ‘has a duty’ to be sustainable

Climate change sceptics attacks by Prince Charles and Ed Davey

Prince Charles speaks out on leaving a hospitable future to his grandchild