Climate Change and The Crown: Will King Charles III Improve UK’s Climate Action Strategy? – EQ Mag Pro
From extremely brutal heatwaves and energy crises to double-digit consumer price inflation, the United Kingdom has been going through a bit of a rough patch in recent times. And on September 8, the country dealt with another major blow as it lost its queen, Elizabeth II, after her reign of 70 long years.
Now, with the new monarch King Charles III set to step in, the situation in the country is sure to undergo some change. While most of it will remain hugely unpredictable, some reliable predictions can be made, one of which focuses on climate action.
The new king has already demonstrated his dedication toward environmental protection, be it through his renowned green thumb or his car that runs on ‘wine and cheese’. Below, we take a deeper look into this very passion.
His contribution to climate action and sustainability thus far
The 73-year-old prince (now king) was only a child when he developed a keen interest in organic agriculture. Since then, for over 50 years, he has been outspoken on various environmental issues, advocating for sustainability and the conservation of soil, ocean and biodiversity.
In fact, just last year, he opened the global climate conference COP26 that was hosted in Glasgow and went on to participate in several prominent events. He also publicly expressed his views on global warming, equating climate action to a war footing situation.
To reduce his own carbon footprint, the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history has ensured that his possessions remain sustainable. While around 90 per cent of the energy in his properties comes from renewable sources such as solar panels and heat pumps, his Aston Martin sports car runs on bioethanol made from wine and cheese byproducts.
A change incoming?
While no person from the royal family can take control of the state, the monarch traditionally meets with the prime minister every week for a strictly confidential conversation. It is during this meeting that critical concerns are raised.
If the new king is indeed serious about his commitment to climate action, these occasions could serve as the perfect opportunities for him to voice his concerns over the environment and energy crisis in the U.K. and around the world, as well as discuss mitigation measures to resolve the issues.
It will also be interesting to see if lesser-discussed concerns such as climate finance — the principle based on rich countries offering aid to underdeveloped countries that disproportionately suffer from the emission of the developed nations — are taken up.
Will there be a noticeable change in the UK’s approach toward climate change and climate action? Only time will tell.
Source: PTI
