King Charles III Looks to Inspire Kids to Take Climate Action In New Book

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King Charles III has co-authored a new children’s book about climate change. Entitled Climate Change, the book will be published next month.

Climate Change, published by London-based Ladybird Books, looks at the causes and effects of climate change on human life, nature, and the Earth’s geography, according to the Ladybird website. The book celebrates the youth climate change movement and highlights the small changes everyone can do, today, to help slow and halt the progression of climate change.

The book is co-authored by Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England. This is the third collaboration between the King and Juniper in the series.

Juniper says the King has been struck by “the level of energy and passion shown by young people on these subjects, and was keen to put something into their hands which was about those basic facts and figures, basic ideas, but also with his personal message in there.”

Ahead of the birth of his first grandchild, George, in 2013, the then-Prince Charles told ITV he doesn’t want to be confronted by his future grandchild and have them say “‘Why didn’t you do something?’ So clearly now that we will have a grandchild, it makes it even more obvious to try and make sure we leave them something that isn’t a total poisoned chalice.”

Climate Change books
King Charles III has penned a new book for kids on Climate Change. Courtesy

The new book takes cues from the United Nation’s COP15, which was held last December. Its focus is on preventing the sixth mass extinction, which many experts say is currently underway.

In addition to his work on climate change, King Charles III has also been a strong advocate for sustainable development. He has spoken out in support of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to end poverty, protect the environment, and promote peace and prosperity.

King Charles III has also been a vocal supporter of the Paris Agreement, which was signed in 2015 and aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. He has urged world leaders to take action to reduce emissions and to invest in renewable energy sources.

One of King Charles’ most notable sustainable development initiatives is his Rainforests Project. Launched in 2007, the project aimed to raise awareness of the importance of rainforests and to encourage action to protect them. The project brought together governments, businesses, and NGOs to support sustainable forestry practices, promote reforestation, and combat illegal logging. As part of this initiative, King Charles has also worked with Indigenous communities in rainforest regions to ensure their rights and livelihoods are protected.

The King has long been an advocate for organic farming practices and has encouraged the use of local and seasonal produce. He founded the Duchy Originals brand in 1990, which promotes organic and sustainable food production. The brand’s profits go towards supporting charitable causes, including sustainable agriculture initiatives.

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Courtesy Andy Gott | Flickr

King Charles has also been a vocal proponent of renewable energy. He has installed solar panels at his residence, the Highgrove House, and has advocated for the use of wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. In 2011, he launched the RE-Source U.K. initiative, which aimed to encourage businesses to switch to renewable energy sources. The initiative provided support and advice to businesses looking to make the switch, and has been credited with encouraging a number of high-profile companies to transition to renewable energy.

Last month, King Charles told the British government that profits from his Crown Estate wind farm would go to support the “wider public good.” Profits are expected to surpass $1 billion per year. The Crown Estate is adding six new offshore wind projects expected to generate enough clean electricity to power more than seven million homes by 2030.

King Charles’ commitment to sustainable development has been recognized both nationally and internationally. In 2011, he was awarded the Global Environmental Citizen Award by the Harvard Medical School for his contributions to environmental conservation. In 2019, he was named as one of the world’s 100 most influential people in climate policy by Apolitical.

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