Prince Charles demands ‘war footing' and private sector trillions to tackle climate crisis

Heir to British throne spoke at opening ceremony of Cop26 conference in Glasgow on Monday

The world must be put on a “military-style footing” and use both government resources and private sector money to tackle the climate crisis, the Prince of Wales has said.

The prince, who has spent decades trying to raise awareness about the growing crisis, spoke at the opening ceremony of the UN conference in Glasgow on Monday.

“We have to put ourselves on what might be called a warlike footing,” he said.

He urged leaders around the globe to systematically engage with business to solve climate problems.

“Here, we need a vast military-style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector,” he said.

“With trillions at its disposal — far beyond global GDP and, with the greatest respect, beyond even the governments of the world's leaders — it offers the only real prospect of achieving fundamental economic transition.”

Prince Charles delivered a speech in Rome on Sunday to leaders at the G20 summit, where he described Cop26 as “the last-chance saloon”.

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  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. AP

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  Boris Johnson greets US President Joe Biden. AP

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  Journalists listen to a live transmission of the speech by Boris Johnson. AFP

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  Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during the opening ceremony. Reuters

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  Prince Charles arrives for the summit. Getty Images

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  A view of the opening ceremony in Glasgow. AP

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  Boris Johnson speaks to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as leaders arrive at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. AP

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  Boris Johnson greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of their bilateral meeting. Getty Images

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  A member of staff adjusts flags before the arrival of leaders in Glasgow. Getty Images

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  Boris Johnson and Antonio Guterres in discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron. Reuters

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  Environmental campaigners with 'big heads' of world leaders, including Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, dress in kilts and carry bagpipes as they gather in Royal Exchange Square, central Glasgow. PA

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  Delegates queue as they arrive at the event. AP

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  Boris Johnson waits to greet leaders as they arrive to attend. AFP

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  A protester dressed as a dinosaur roars outside the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow. PA

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  Boris Johnson and Antonio Guterres hold a conversation with Narendra Modi. AP

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  Red Rebellion activists participate in a protest at Glasgow Central Station. Reuters

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  Joe Biden attends the opening session of Cop26. AP Photo

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  Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives at the Cop26 summit. PA

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  Boris Johnson greets Antonio Guterres and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh. AP

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  Emmanuel Macron speaks to reporters. Reuters

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  Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (C) poses for a photograph as she meets climate activists Vanessa Nakate (R) and Greta Thunberg. AFP

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  A man tries out virtual reality goggles at the SECC in Glasgow, the venue for Cop26. Getty Images

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  Boris Johnson welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Getty Images

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  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrives at Cop26. PA

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  Indonesian traditional dancers perform. Reuters

On Monday, shortly after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke in front of world leaders to rally efforts to make Cop26 the beginning of the end for climate change, the prince said: “The scale and scope of the threat we face call for a global, systems-level solution based on radically transforming our current fossil fuel-based economy to one that is genuinely renewable and sustainable.”

He said that after many years of his own efforts in speaking up about environmental issues, he is “at last sensing a change in attitudes and the build-up of positive momentum".

The prince added that solutions to major issues “seem possible only if there is a much closer partnership between government, the main multilateral banks, the private sector and its investors”.

At Cop26, he also warned national leaders that the cost of inaction outweighed the cost of action.

“Many of your countries are already feeling the devastating impact of climate change, through ever-increasing droughts, mudslides, floods, hurricanes, cyclones and wildfires,” he said.

“Any leader who has had to confront such life-threatening challenges knows that the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of prevention.

“So, I can only urge you, as the world's decision-makers, to find practical ways of overcoming differences so we can all get down to work, together, to rescue this precious planet and save the threatened future of our young people.”