Is it possible for the British royals to make a difference on the environment?

Queen Elizabeth recently released a video message to world leaders at COP26. The Queen's call to "work together" to combat climate change is the culmination of many powerful statements on climate change that have been spoken by the British royal family.

In light of decades of Prince Charles' call to put nature first and Prince William's increasingly vocal voice on climate change, the royal family is taking steps to protect the planet. seems to have positioned itself at the center of the battle for

However, as the public has come to look to the British royals to set an example, the royal family's own lifestyle and environmental concerns have come into focus. can we bring about change in environmental issues?”

There is no single article that covers everything Prince Charles has to say about climate change. But it wasn't until February 1970, when Prince Charles made his first public speech on the issue, that he described the "horrific effects of pollution in all its forms of detriment" and declared that "non-biodegradable plastic containers ” emphasized the problem of mass use.

About 50 years later, in January 2020, he gave a speech at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, saying, "I have devoted much of my life to restoring harmony between humanity, nature, and the environment, and "We have been dedicated to promoting social and environmental responsibility in our company. To be frank, it has been a bit of an uphill battle, but now is the time to take it to the next level." It then presents 10 "practical actions" for sustainable markets and concludes, "The only limit is our hesitancy to act."

Prince Charles has long been one of Britain's most prominent royal voices on the need to protect the planet, but in recent years Prince William has stepped up his activism significantly in this area. . In a TED talk given in October 2020, he described the next decade as "the most important period in history."

A year later, his comment on the "Earthshot Award" in an interview with the BBC attracted attention. "We need the best minds and minds in the world to restore this planet (Earth) instead of looking for the next settlement (Mars)," the prince said at the time.

The Queen is known not to speak her mind, but in her powerful speech to world leaders at the opening ceremony of COP26, her position on the need for urgent action was: , there was no doubt.

The Queen said, "The days of verbal promises are over and it's time to take action." Those remarks were public, but in a private conversation in mid-October, the Queen expressed her frustration with leaders not attending COP26: "It's really frustrating to be all talk and no action." It seems that I was spilling it.

The British royal family is arguably in a unique position to use its name recognition and convening power to make a difference. Prince William's 'Earthshot Prize', which seeks to find and fund 50 solutions to restore the planet, is a notable recent endeavor, but members of the royal family have been doing it for decades. Supporting environmental groups.

Prince Philip supports the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Prince Charles supports and establishes several charities and initiatives (Prince's Countryside Fund and Sustainable Markets Initiative). is just one example of this), the British Royal has often shed light on global environmental issues.

The royal family is also urging people to join in planting trees in the wake of next year's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which will mark the Queen's 70th anniversary on the throne. In addition, Queen's Green Canopy invites individuals and groups to "plant a tree for the Jubilee" every October through March.

While spearheading philanthropy is part of the role of the British royals, attention has also focused on how these prominent figures actually live green lives. there is It's no wonder they've been accused of hypocrisy at times, flying around the world in private planes several times a year and often using helicopters to travel between royal residences.

While representing the United Kingdom on missions abroad, the British royals may not be able to control their carbon footprint, but I would love to see people at the highest levels doing what they preach. is a matter of course for the people.

Buckingham Palace has been aware of this for years, stating on its website, "We are committed to reducing our environmental impact throughout our operations at the Royal Palace and estates, and are We use everything from LED lighting to hydroelectric power plants to operate efficiently."

Sixty smart meters monitor energy consumption, and the palace says it has implemented a "Green Champions Network" since July 2006 to make the royal residence a greener place. Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a £369 million publicly funded renovation, which will replace the aging boilers with new energy centers that will generate "300 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. It is expected to reduce carbon emissions."

A spokeswoman for Prince Charles' official residence, Clarence House, explained that the prince has "personally taken many steps to live in a more sustainable way," adding that "in his office and at home. About half of the energy we use comes from renewable sources such as wood chip boilers, air source heat pumps, solar panels and 'green' electricity."

The Prince is remembered for noting that he converted his family farm in Gloucestershire to organic farming in 1985 and, more recently, has run his Aston Martin on fuel made from surplus cheese and wine. new. But last month, The Sunday Times reported that an investigation was launched after the prince's charitable foundation, the Prince's Foundation, received a donation from a Saudi oil company.

I doubt how much cheese and wine can drive a car, but British royals are often spotted driving hybrids and electric cars. Prince William's inaugural "Earthshot Awards" ceremony in London in October featured paperless, plant-based canapés and guests not flying in just to attend the event. In addition, guests were asked to wear their own clothes or to emphasize sustainability when choosing clothes, which attracted attention as a sustainable event.

As more people wake up to the need to address climate change, the British royal family will continue to be at the center of it. Members of the world-famous Royal Royal have a special influence in getting people to listen, but it's hard to gauge the value of such a call to action. Others, however, have more tangible results, such as the £50million prizes awarded to the winners of the Earthshot Prize, and charities that wouldn't exist if Prince Charles hadn't founded them.

British royals are in such a privileged position, but they also need to be aware that their powers are subject to many restrictions. Recently, there have been calls for the rewilding of the lands owned by the British royal family to their original natural state, but this involves not being under the control of the monarch but operating as British public property. Also included is the Crown Estate, a separate piece of land

However, private estates such as Balmoral, Sandringham, and Highgrove, and official residences such as Buckingham Palace, have gardens created to encourage "wildlife and vegetation", so the royals are not allowed to act on their own. can be managed. Whether people praise, criticize, or deny the Royals for advocating climate change, they keep mentioning climate change.

Keeping in mind what the Queen said at COP26, "We are not doing this for ourselves, but for our children, our grandchildren and those who will follow in their footsteps." I want to keep

Translation: Masayo Fukaya From TOWN&COUNTRY