‘War-like footing’ urged by Charles

The Prince of Wales has called for global commitments to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 to be brought for ward by two decades – because the current target “suggests we have room to delay”.

Charles’ comment, made in a speech to launch Climate Week, is at odds with the UK government’s plan to cut carbon emissions to net zero within 30 years.

The heir to the throne gave the ambitious target of 2030 for nations to cut emissions, which he said was needed“given the enormity of the problem we face”.

Speaking yesterday via a recorded message from B irk hall in the grounds of Balm oral, the prince also called for a financial recovery package, like the Marshall Plan that rebuilt post-war Europe, to help “nature, people and planet”. Charles, who has been an environmental campaign er since the early 1970s, said :“With the planetary emergency so critical, with the per mafrost melting in Siberia for instance, producing dire effects on global warming, and with the Pantanal in Brazil being consumed by unprecedented numbers of fires, we can no longer go on like this, as if there was no tomorrow and no ultimate reckoning for our abuse of nature. So what do we do? Without doubt we must now put ourselves on a war-like footing.”