Prince Charles: Green Hero or Hypocrite?

  February 17, 2009 at 11:56 am by

In March the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, together with a 14-strong entourage, will visit Chile, Brazil and Ecuador on an official tour.
The visit will focus on the key issues of environmental sustainability and climate change.
The Prince has decided to take a private jet for the 16.000-mile trip. The plane will be an Airbus 319 which seats 29. At the flight to South America the ‘royal jet’ will release 322 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

After the announcement of using a private jet for the ‘environmental tour’, Charles was (again) accused of hypocrisy. The criticism came from Labour MPs, the press and is also a topic at The Royal Forums.

Should the Prince, who promotes the reduction of the carbon footprint, refuse to go on official tours involving long-distance flights?

To be an ambassador for the environment, be someone who fights against climate change, who works for the rescue of the rainforest, the Prince should visit countries around the world, hold talks with people there, see projects and the situation with his own eyes.
To mange results it needs his vist, his presence on the spot!

Is it a good choice to travel by a private jet?
Hard to say exactly how many less tons of carbon dioxide would produce a commercial flight, pro person, with this jet or that plane.
But it would be a better choice for the Prince to go to South America by a public flight.
It would reduce costs, avoid criticism and would be more plausible for many.

Is Charles a green hero or a hypocrite?
The Prince is a keen fighter and an important pioneer for the environment and climate change.
He’s also a figure with a globetrotting lifestyle, someone who lives a life full of comfort. He’s a Prince, he’s the heir to the British throne!

No, he isn’t a hypocrite, his daily work shows it.
Yes he’s a green hero, but it does not mean that he will rent a cave to live in and travel with a coach next time…

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