James Forsyth James Forsyth

Should Prince Charles be getting involved in the Copenhagen debate?

I’m of the view that climate change is happening and that the evidence suggests that man’s actions are playing a significant role in this. I’m even in favour of a carbon tax to deal with the problem. But I’ll admit that this is a political issue as well as a scientific, and one that will become more politicised in the years to come. All of which makes me wonder if it is wise for Prince Charles to have gone to Copenhagen to warn that there are “only seven years before we lose the levers of control”.

In his speech, the Prince proposed a series of measures designed to combat global warming and threw his name and position behind the International Investor Statement on Climate Change. Now, these views are compatible with those of both the government and the main opposition parties. But they still strike me as political positions and ones that not every party would agree with and so it would be wiser for Prince Charles to keep out of this debate. 

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