Heir pollution
Charles branded eco chump after chopper trip to lecture experts on aircraft emissions
Climate champ Prince Charles was last night branded an eco chump for lecturing scientists on reducing aircraft emissions – after flying in on the Queen’s helicopter.
The royal – already under fire over air travel costing £280,000 last month – flew 178 miles on two journeys.
But the chopper’s total journey, to and from base, was 368 miles.
Charles was picked up at Highgrove, Gloucestershire, and flown 125 miles to Cambridge.
A Bentley ferried him the last few miles to Cambridge University’s world-leading Whittle Laboratory.
Its scientists are leading research into the decarbonisation of air travel and aim to develop the first zero carbon flight.
During a speech to researchers Charles, 71, urged them to “act quickly to rescue this poor old planet”.
But within minutes of speaking he was back in the air again – flying the 53 miles to Sandringham to see the Queen.
Experts say the helicopter’s full journey, involving four flights, caused carbon emissions of about 2.5 tons, used hundreds of gallons of aviation fuel and cost the taxpayer at least £12,000.
It is estimated Charles could have cut his carbon footprint down to an estimated 0.2 tonnes if he had gone by car.
And he could have made the same trips by train for just £ 91.20, including a £ 10.70 single from Cambridge to Kings Lynn, the station the Queen uses to get to Sandringham.
Eco groups and roya l wat cher s slammed the prince last night. Graham Smith, CEO of campaign group Republic, said: “It’s rank hypocrisy and shows he’s not a serious environmentalist.
“He wants to play the role, but not walk the walk. His view seems to be that it’s one rule for him and one rule for the rest of us. “Driving or using the train would have been pretty easy. He could cut down on hot air emissions by keeping his views to himself.” Dr Lucy Gil l iam, aviation and shipping campaigner for environmental group Transport and Environment, said: “Private planes and helicopters use 10 to 20 times the carbon emissions of just taking a normal plane, a train or an electric car.
“He could have used a private car with a chauffeur, ideally an electric one if he really wanted to walk the walk. He can definitely afford a Tesla.
“I don’t doubt that Prince Charles really does get the message but if he wants to be really effective, make those changes that will send such an enormous signal to the world.” The row comes barely a week after Charles was criticised when private jets and helicopters flew him 16,000 miles in the days before he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
That was where he met Swedish eco-activist Greta Thunberg, 17, who made a double crossing of the Atlantic by boat earlier this year after refusing to fly.
Charles made a point of using an electric Jaguar I-Pace executive car to travel through the Alps to meet the teenager.