Just 96 months to save world, says Prince Charles
The price of capitalism and consumerism is just too high, he tells industrialists
Digg
del.icio.us
Facebook
Reddit
Google
Stumble Upon
Fark
Newsvine
YahooBuzz
Bebo
Twitter
Independent Minds
enlarge
Capitalism and consumerism have brought the world to the brink of economic and environmental collapse, the Prince of Wales has warned in a grandstand speech which set out his concerns for the future of the planet.
The heir to the throne told an audience of industrialists and environmentalists at St James's Palace last night that he had calculated that we have just 96 months left to save the world.
And in a searing indictment on capitalist society, Charles said we can no longer afford consumerism and that the "age of convenience" was over.
The Prince, who has spoken passionately about the environment before, said that if the world failed to heed his warnings then we all faced the "nightmare that for so many of us now looms on the horizon".
Charles's speech was described as his first attempt to present a coherent philosophy in which he placed the threat to the environment in the context of a failing economic system.
The Prince, who is advised by the leading environmentalists Jonathon Porritt and Tony Juniper, said that even the economist Adam Smith, father of modern capitalism, had been aware of the short-comings of unfettered materialism.
Delivering the annual Richard Dimbleby lecture, Charles said that without "coherent financial incentives and disincentives" we have just 96 months to avert "irretrievable climate and ecosystem collapse, and all that goes with it."
Charles has recently courted controversy by intervening in planning disputes, most notably the battle over the Chelsea Barracks design in London. It is also known that he writes privately to ministers when he wishes to put his concerns on record.
Now, he seems more willing to embrace much wider political issues in a much more public forum.
He confided last night: "We face the dual challenges of a world view and an economic system that seem to have enormous shortcomings, together with an environmental crisis – including that of climate change – which threatens to engulf us all."
Despite his attack on the materialism of the modern age, the Prince has been criticised for his own indulgences, including dozens of staff to run his homes and hundreds of thousands of pounds spent travelling around the world. While his private estates on the Duchy of Cornwall generate record profits his tax bill was lower than the year before.
Last night the Prince said: "But for all its achievements, our consumerist society comes at an enormous cost to the Earth and we must face up to the fact that the Earth cannot afford to support it. Just as our banking sector is struggling with its debts – and paradoxically also facing calls for a return to so-called 'old-fashioned', traditional banking – so Nature's life-support systems are failing to cope with the debts we have built up there too.
"If we don't face up to this, then Nature, the biggest bank of all, could go bust. And no amount of quantitative easing will revive it."
View all comments that have been posted about this article.
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP logged and may be used to prevent further submission. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by the Independent Minds Terms of Service.
- Print Article
- Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2009 Independent News and Media Limited
Reduce your global impact.
Comments
April 2009: At the launch of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, Prince Charles warned that the red squirrel could be extinct in the UK within ten years.
If we have only 8 years-according to Charles in his speach about global warming-than squirrels will outlive us!!!
Who writes these speechs for him?! His worst enemy? Gosh! Prince Charles needs math lessons! The guy is dumb!
Lexi
If we're stuck with the death throes of a dysfunctional economic and political system, there's no point in throwing good money after bad.
Charles and the Pope are both speaking out about the concept that possibly the train we are on and the track we are on are not heading for the correct destination, or are going we wrong route to get to that destination. The fact that neither has a balance or truly coherent strategy is unfortunate but not fatal - at least they know that something is wrong - that is more than all the World Leaders know - they are busy trying to get the same train back on the same track. Of course the rich in rich countries have a patrician view of what the future world order should be. But at least they are thinking and talking - do not deride them - extend the debate.
Mr Alex Weir, Gaborone and Harare
Stripped of his inherited wealth and titles this intellectually third rate adulterous dick head would be lucky to find a job of any kind let alone lecture the rest of us. Even the vomit inducing Bono and the equally odious Bob Geldof earned their own money before embarking in their self congratulatory posturing imbecility.
In reference to HRH finding a job, as an employer, i'd rather hire someone who is willing to stand up and speak than someone like you who seems to take a general dislike to anyone pointing out what is increasingly an abvious and ugly truth. We cannot continue to grow and consume the earth resources at the rate we are doing so, unless we are prepared to sacrifice our future. But perhaps that is it. Perhaps people like you don't care about anyone else. All you care about is yourself, and since the earth has enough resources to see you through to the end of YOUR life, you would rather not be reminded of the devilish ignorance you continue to pursue.
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
The Total is 40 kids before you die die die die die die die buried buried buried burnt given to crows eagles tuna whales etc hELP help moma moma
Firozali A.Mulla
*Apologies to all real fish reading this
Has any of you daring to call him names read ANYTHING scientific about climate change? Certainly not, because I have and I know prince Charles' speech to be entirely truthful. He at least is up to date on the challenges that face us.
If the IPCC's report is too long and difficult a read, then read the warning 1500 scientists from all over the world have sent out in 1992 (!!!!): http://www.worldtrans.org/whole/war
I wonder what's there to be misunderstood, or challenged.
The contradictions in Charles' life style are duly pointed out and they make hollow, the earnestness with which he speaks.
I'm afraid he will always be like the "Curate's Egg", since he is part of the profligate elite, who seem to justify their actions by speaking out against the same actions of others.
Despite this--and the fact that, he will be amongst those least affected by the looming disasters--it is good that he speaks out, if only to show his awareness of what the populace faces.
I agree that over population is our biggest problem, but you've few choices
1) tax second children globally for 200 years, thereby reducing the population
2) er... i'm out of choices
But still what do you do when most of your population is old? Remove retirement enitrely and work until you drop?
(not that I think global warming is not a real issue, it's just that Charles doesn't come out as a person to believe on any subject, considering his stated beliefs and support of quackery)
Ever read anything about global warming then? Well, obviously not either. It's not a religion, it's a scientific fact. Read the IPCC report. Read. Inform yourself properly. And then come back to us with an interesting comment when you have.
And show some respect. There's a lot of basic human respect missing here.
As regards his prognosis? Take heed ... or you, your loved ones, and the very culture that sustained & gave you your identity will all perish following a final blow-out filled with unmitigated chaos and mayhem.
Waiting for law & order to break down before finally growing up is a very unwise proposition.