‘Strange move’ as King is not now going to climate summit
The change of plan so King Charles will not now be attending next month’s climate conference COP27 in Egypt is a strange decision, said Midlands green energy expert Ron Fox.
Only last month, when he was Prince of Wales, he indicated that he would be going to a United Nations event, which is being held in the coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh from November 8 to 16.
But after advice from Prime Minister Liz Truss, it was agreed that the King would not be going.
“It seems the Government has missed an opportunity to send such an influential person who is deeply committed to environmental issues to this international summit,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd.
Only last year Charles was one of the star performers when he made a speech at the COP26 opening ceremony in Glasgow, calling for world leaders to adopt a ‘war-like footing’ over climate change. At the summit, which was hosted by the UK, the late Queen Elizabeth also gave an address via a video link.
Charles had also made a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum at Davos in 2020 urging business leaders to decarbonise the world economy. He told them that global warming, climate change and the devastating loss of biodiversity was the greatest threat humanity has ever faced.
However, said Ron, the decision is about the King not attending in person, which might allow him to make a virtual contribution.
“Ironically,” he added, “in November 2021 Prince Charles travelled to Egypt with the then-government’s blessing to urge the Egyptian administration in its environment efforts, when he met President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi during a planned visit.”
The Egyptian authorities say they hope to use their presidency of COP27 to urge the international community to act on pledges to support developing countries to cope with the devastating impacts of climate change.
For more than 50 years, the King, now 73, has demonstrated his deep commitment to environmental issues and, as Prince of Wales, he had a long history of campaigning to reduce the effects of climate change.
It is a passion he has inherited from his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, and which he has passed on to his sons, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex.
Back in 1970 when he started highlighting the negative effects of excessive plastic use his campaign was seen as a bit strange but now, he is seen as one of the world’s key green players.
“I only hope that there is a change of mind and that the King Charles will be allowed to attend,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park. “His knowledge and passion would add serious authority to the British delegation.”
For more information about climate change and what you can do about it, call Ron on 0845 4746641.
Caption: Missed opportunity – King Charles III will not now be going to the climate conference COP27 in Egypt next month. Picture: Wikipedia.
