Prince Charles is urging the country to put ‘our planet and our children and grandchildren first’ in an editorial written in Country Life magazine, which he is guest editing to celebrate his birthday.
Writing about climate change and the coronavirus pandemic in a heartfelt letter, the royal, who turns 72 on Saturday, says the country and the world, ‘have experienced changes we could never have foreseen’ adding that ‘uncertainty has become a steady state’ and that ‘the previously unimaginable has become unexceptional’.
It comes two years after the heir to the throne guest edited an issue to celebrate his 70th birthday in 2018, with it becoming the magazine’s biggest-selling edition in its 123-year history.
Prince Charles has urged the country to put ‘our planet and our children and grandchildren first’ in an editorial written in Country Life magazine, which he has guest edited to celebrate his birthday
In this week’s magazine’s leader, Charles praises ‘the strength of our society, its resourcefulness, its compassion and its stoical determination’.
‘At such a time, it is tempting, and understandable, to focus on the losses, the failures and the challenges,’ he writes.
‘However, if the life of the land teaches anything, it is the need to look at the long term.’
Earlier this year, Charles’ sister Princess Anne also edited an issue of the magazine.
The Princess Royal, 70, took over the 29 June edition of the British weekly magazine to mark her birthday on August 15, which showcased her love of horses and revealed her best-loved painting and garden.
Writing about climate change and the coronavirus pandemic in a heartfelt letter, the royal, who turns 72 on Saturday, says the country and the world, ‘have experienced changes we could never have foreseen’ adding that ‘uncertainty has become a steady state’ and that ‘the previously unimaginable has become unexceptional’
Charles, who has been a long-term eco-campaigner, added the nation should draw on its strength that has seen it fight coronavirus and ‘pool our efforts’ to tackle ‘the other deeply troubling problems our planet faces: global warming, climate change and the heartbreaking loss of biodiversity.’
He added: ‘We have a very short window of opportunity, which must not be squandered, in which to seize something good from this crisis and, as we rebuild, to put Nature, our planet and our children and grandchildren first.’
The magazine’s publication comes just days after the royal echoed similar thoughts speaking at a virtual eco-summit.
Speaking on climate change at the virtual Green Horizon Summit, the royal said: ‘I’m afraid we are literally at the last step.
‘And there is real urgency for action, designed to mobilise the financial sector in the run-up to a U.N. climate change conference next year.
‘We know now what we have to do to rescue the situation, rather than going on, talking about it.’
He outlined 10 immediate actions that could make a significant difference from mobilising investment in sustainable infrastructure to increasing carbon capture use and storage to ‘buy us precious time’ as the world moves to a net zero economy.
It comes as Charles eldest son Prince William has also launched his own campaign setting up the £50 million Earthshot prize dubbed the ‘green Nobel prize’.. Prince William is pictured at launch of the award
‘We must start accounting for natural capital on companies’ balance sheets,’ he said.
In September, Charles called for a military-style response to the threat of climate change reminiscent of the U.S. Marshall Plan to rebuild post-war Europe, saying the world was facing a catastrophe.
‘With the urgency required, I hope you will join me to drive a new Marshall-like plan for nature, people and planet, led by the private sector to align our collective efforts and resources for the highest possible impact,’ he told the summit.
It comes as Charles eldest son Prince William has also launched his own campaign setting up the £50 million Earthshot prize dubbed the ‘green Nobel prize’.
In September, Charles called for a military-style response to the threat of climate change reminiscent of the U.S. Marshall Plan to rebuild post-war Europe, saying the world was facing a catastrophe. He is pictured on Remembrance Sunday at The Cenotaph
Launched on 8th October by the second-in-line and a global coalition of individuals, businesses and organisations, The Earthshot Prize aims to find new solutions to the world’s biggest environmental problems.
The nominees can be individuals, communities, businesses and organisations whose solutions make the most progress towards achieving the five Earthshots – which are simple but ambitious goals which if achieved by 2030 will improve life for us all, for generations to come.
The Duke of Cambridge, 38, has followed in his father Prince Charles’ footsteps as a passionate campaigner to live in a greener world, with him recently saying he ‘gets upset and is kept awake at night by politicians’ failure to act over climate change.