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Britain’s new King Charles III is a dedicated environmentalist with a long history of campaigning for better conservation, organic farming, and addressing climate change, which is likely to appeal to the country’s more environmentally conscious younger citizens.
Interspersed with photos of official meetings and other royal duties, his Instagram account as Prince of Wales typically featured images of him promoting environmental causes in the United Kingdom and around the world.
Planting trees, displaying organic fruit and vegetables from his Clarence House residence, and colourful flowers growing in the garden of his beloved Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, western England, were among them.
One photograph even captured Charles, who has now passed on the title of Prince of Wales to his son and heir William, on a visit to threatened mangrove swamps in the Caribbean’s St Vincent and Grenadines.
When Britain hosted the COP26 climate summit in Scotland last year, he delivered the opening speech, urging world leaders seated in front of him to redouble their efforts to combat global warming and warning that “time has literally run out.”
Charles has “been raising awareness about all aspects of the environment for a very long time,” according to Bob Ward of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.
He told AFP that “in many ways, he has been ahead of public and political awareness” on the issue.
Sustainability
Charles has created a public garden at Highgrove, as well as a completely organic farm.
“His Royal Highness has taken many personal steps to live in a more sustainable manner,” according to his official website during his time as Prince of Wales.
It was noted that approximately 90% of energy for office and domestic use was now generated from renewable sources, with approximately half generated on-site from renewable sources such as solar panels, biomass boilers, and heat pumps and the remainder purchased from renewable sources.
For several years, Charles has published his annual carbon footprint, which in the year to March 2022 amounted to 445 tonnes (including unofficial travel).
His Aston Martin, which he has owned for over 50 years, has been modified to run on leftover English white wine and whey from the cheese-making process.
It is powered by a blend of 85% bioethanol and 15% unleaded gasoline.
Since 2011, the monarch has served as president of the WWF-UK animal charity, following in the footsteps of his late father, Prince Philip, who served in the same capacity from 1981 to 1996.
He also serves as the patron of several other organisations, including “Surfers Against Sewage,” and has delivered numerous speeches warning of the extinction of biodiversity.
In April, he wrote and graced the cover of Newsweek magazine with an article titled “our children are judging us.”
Sensitive
His outspoken stances on issues such as the environment have prompted some to accuse him of breaking with constitutional norms that require the royal family to remain politically neutral at all times.
Charles has repeatedly vowed to uphold constitutional practises, most recently when he ascended to the throne this week.
However, he may not see environmental and conservation causes as overtly political.
“He’d be very sensitive as a head of state,” Ward predicted.
Ruby Wright, a 42-year-old illustrator who visited Buckingham Palace to honour the late Queen Elizabeth II, said on Friday that she hopes “he keeps to his guns.”
He will have less free time as king to pursue his interests in farming and gardening. He acknowledged talking to plants in a 1986 interview, which earned him some jeers.
William, who shares his passion to the environment, has already taken up the mantle, though.
The Earthshot prize, which honours initiatives that provide solutions to the climate catastrophe, was established by William last year.
