The Prince of Wales has launched a stinging attack on “climate sceptics”, deriding them for peddling “pseudo science”.In a speech to world business leaders at a climate change seminar Charles criticised the group for apparently intimidating people from “adopting the precautionary measures necessary to avert environmental collapse”.
Some experts dispute global predictions for climate change mainly because changes to the planet’s climate have occurred in the past, due to natural causes.
Leading figures like former Conservative chancellor Lord Lawson and environmentalist and broadcaster David Bellamy have added their voices to others questioning the conclusions of global warming ‘believers’.
Charles, speaking at the event staged by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership at St James’ Palace, did not mention any sceptics by name but said: “People have heard the climate sceptics and attempted to listen to the kind of pseudo science they are peddling…I have endlessly been accused of peddling pseudo science, in one way or another, for most of my life – just think about the strange irony.”
During the last few decades Charles has attempted to influence public opinion by speaking about the threat climate change poses and setting up his Prince’s Rainforest Project to try to safeguard the world’s rainforests.
The heir to the throne has also given a number of high profile speeches on the subject on the world stage, including speaking at last year’s UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen.
During his address, Charles said: “I have already alluded to the problem of climate scepticism.
“It appears to be on the rise again with more and more people prepared to listen to those siren voices that say that everything is okay, there is no need to worry and that we can all carry on as before as all this fuss about climate change and environmental collapse is merely part of a sinister attempt to undermine the entire foundations of the market-based capitalist system.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, I believe the urgency of the situation is too great simply to sit back and do nothing.”