Interviewed by the BBC at the royal family’s estate in Balmoral,the Prince of Wales said it would be a “disaster” if next month’s COP26 summit in Glasgow collapsed,and appeared taken aback when told Morrison still did not know whether he would go.
“I mean it’ll be catastrophic,” Charles said of potential failure. “It is already beginning to be catastrophic because nothing in nature can survive the stress that is created by these extremes of weather.”
Morrison has not decided whether to fly to Glasgow but is negotiating with cabinet and backbench MPs over a new formal policy of net-zero emissions by 2050. He is also under pressure to lift Australia’s existing goal of cutting pollution by 26 to 28 per cent by 2030.
Told the Prime Minister was concerned about quarantining for another two weeks upon return to Australia if he attended the COP26 summit,Charles stopped walking,looked at the interviewer and replied:“Is that what he says,is it?”
Asked what he would say to world leaders about the importance of coming to Glasgow,Charles said:“That’s what I’m trying to say all the time ... that this is a last chance saloon – literally. Because if we don’t really take the decisions that are vital now it’s going to be impossible to catch up.”
Charles said he “couldn’t possibly comment” when asked whether the UK government was doing enough. The UK has a goal of reducing emissions by 68 per cent by 2030 and a legislated net zero by 2050 target.