Back climate agenda Charles tells judges
Prince makes first public bid to influence courts
PRINCE Charles has urged judges to swing the courts behind the campaign to combat climate change.
He told them the judiciary will be asked to rule on legal challenges over environmental regulations and ‘courts will play a crucial role’.
In a letter to a conference on climate change attended by senior judges, the Prince of Wales said they should ‘discuss ways courts can support the achievement of climate change goals’.
The Prince added: ‘You can help to inform the public and fellow members of your profession that we must act urgently to prevent the disastrous consequences of global warming.
‘Achievement of legally binding goals such as cutting greenhouse gas emissions are long-term aims that independent courts may be called upon to oversee.’
The call is his first public attempt to influence the judiciary. It follows controversy over years of ‘black spider memos’ in his distinctive writing to ministers lobbying for pet projects.
The move risks again exposing the future king to concern over his willingness to involve himself in highly contentious political disputes, particularly over whether state limits on greenhouse gas emissions are necessary or beneficial.
The independence of the judiciary remains a deeply sensitive source of tension between politicians and judges since Tony Blair’s reforms of the 2000s were seen by many as exposing the courts to political influence.
In his letter to the Climate Change and the Courts conference, Charles also praised the EU and UN environment campaigns in a manner likely to upset Eurosceptics and some Tories.
The event at King’s College London was held with the backing of the Supreme Court. Judges attending included his former legal adviser Lord Carnwath, a Justice of the Supreme Court.
A number of prominent judges from around the world were also present alongside legal and environment academics.
The Prince also wrote: ‘ It occurs to me – as I am sure it does to all of you – that our courts will also play a crucial role in helping us to mitigate and adapt to climate change. I am heartened to see that so many illustrious legal practitioners, judges and academics are engaging with this issue.
‘I am sure that politicians and judges alike will be astute to ensure that as a society we do not allow ourselves to be distracted from our environmental commitments.
‘I fervently believe that the appalling threat human-induced climate change poses to mankind’s future cannot and should not be under-estimated.’
The Prince also pressed for new international laws to be agreed at the Paris climate change conference in December. He called for a ‘Magna Carta for the Earth’ with binding emissions targets.
His intervention follows that of the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who is leading a campaign for new international greenhouse laws.
A spokesman for the Prince said he ‘did not write an unsolicited letter to the judiciary’ adding that Charles was invited to the event but was unable to go.
‘Lord Carnwath asked if HRH would send a message of support to be read out to the international lawyers in attendance,’ said the spokesman.
‘The Prince agreed, hence how the message came about - he was requested to support the important work of the judiciary as they considered the possible implications of climate change.’
‘The disastrous consequences’