Charles launches virtual climate change festival

The Prince of Wales has launched a virtual climate change festival by telling activists consumer power could be the engine that drives the transformation towards sustainable markets.

In a video message to start the two-day online summit It’s Time, Charles said coronavirus had caused “devastation” but the “green recovery” offered the chance to “reset” aspects of society.

The event has been organised by social enterprise Ecologi, which encourages the public to support green projects, in collaboration with global wildlife conservation organisation WWF, after the postponement of the UN Climate Change Conference Cop26 due to Covid-19.

Charles said in the pre-recorded message: “The current pandemic has brought unimaginable devastation to people’s lives, livelihoods and national economies.

“At the same time the green recovery represents an unprecedented opportunity to rethink and reset the ways in which we live, and do business.

“Now, having been championing sustainability for at least, I suppose the last 40 years, I can tell you that this isn’t a fight for the faint of heart.

“However, increasingly, we are seeing more and more businesses, investors and consumers prioritise sustainability, and thus creating a much more virtuous circle of supply and demand.

“With consumers controlling an estimated 60% of global GDP, people around the world have the power to drive the transformation to sustainable markets.

“This festival demonstrates that we can join together across the world to drive action, and to deliver change. Your efforts, ladies and gentlemen, will help accelerate our transition to a sustainable future.”

Other notable speakers will include broadcaster and children’s author Konnie Huq, criminal barrister and TV personality Judge Robert Rinder, and comedian Matt Winning.