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Charles puts his (carbon) foot in it
Last updated at 11:07am on 18.01.07
Gaz guzzling: Charles and Camilla will travel with 20 staff, taking up the whole of the first and club class section in a scheduled New York flight
Prince Charles is to fly to New York, booking the entire first-class and business class section of a jumbo jet for his 20-strong entourage - to pick up an award for his work on the environment.
During the trip he plans to emphasise the importance which the British Government places on climate change as a key international priority.
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To underline his commitment to reducing his 'carbon footprint' - the amount of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere during the flight - he is to travel by scheduled flight instead of a chartered or private jet.
But he and his 20-strong party will travel exclusively in the first and club class sections where there are a total of 62 seats.
This means their effective 'carbon footprint' is three times what it would be if every seat was used and the short return trip to New York will result in the emission of 24 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
To 'offset' this, the prince would need to pay £177.60 to plant trees.
Charles and Camilla will visit Philadelphia and New York on a two-day visit to America on 27 and 28 January.
The Prince is to receive the Global Environmental Citizen Award from Harvard Medical School's Centre for Health and the Global Environment, from last year's recipient, former Vice President and Presidential candidate Al Gore and actress Meryl Streep.
He is to be praised for highlighting the importance of the environment.
The Prince, who has described climate change as the 'biggest threat to mankind', is also planning to publish details of his own carbon footprint - a measure of how his activities have had an impact on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced - as part of his 2007 accounts.
In November it was revealed that he planned a green revolution at his office.
The radical shake-up included getting staff to use bicycles to help the fight against global warming. He said he was even prepared to travel to London by commuter train from a station near Highgrove.
Charles told aides he also wanted to stop using gas-guzzling royal helicopters and private jets on official engagements whenever possible and intended to make more use of the royal train and to find a more environmentally-friendly fuel for his fleet of cars.
In December Charles officially announced his plans saying he may cut down on official engagements to live a greener lifestyle.
Senior courtiers said changing his travel programme may result in the prince carrying out fewer official duties each year.
His spokesman Paddy Harverson said at the time: "One of our main targets will be to reduce the number of flights the prince uses in the UK each year."
The cost of Charles and Camilla's weekend visit to New York will be significantly less than the £280,186 to taxpayers for his last official trip to America in November 2005.
With a hefty discount negotiated with British Airways the cost is still expected to be around £100,000. If he had paid full fare for the 14 first class seats and 48 business class seats the return flight would have cost £281,530.
Last year Charles spent £1.1 million on private planes and helicopters, including £304,000 on a private jet for his official tour of Egypt, India and Saudi Arabia.
Reader views (30)
If you all don't want him, we will take him!
- J. Prince, Crossville, TN, USA
I applaud Charles and all he has done to show that sustainable agriculture.
- John, USA
Who cares about carbon footprints and all that? We'll all be dead by the time global warming does anything anyway. Why don't leading personalities focus on solutions and science rather than contemplating switching back to bicycles?
- Lucious, Florida
Like all liberalism, it's not important what you do, but rather what you say and feel. Certainly we can't expect that Charles's words and feelings should have to apply to a man as important and distinguished as he.
I'll start to listen to him when he trades in his palaces, castles, estates, manors and jet-setting lifestyle for a mudhut subsistence lifestyle on an organic farm. Until then, spare me the sermon!
- Sammy, Charlotte, NC USA
Why couldn't they just take a British military jet going to the US anyhow?
- Ian Haut, Jacksonville, Florida
The rich and famous will always consume more energy because they are rich. And rich lifestyles are energy-rich. I think Prince Charles is making a commendable effort here. He tries. Of course, he fails at times, but who doesn't?
- Sw, Fort Worth, TX, USA
Well said Tim.
- Lee, London
All air travel should be banned at once. Too much is at stake. We need to close all airports at once. Also, each family should be limited to one car and that car must get at least 50 mpg. Charles is a hero to us all.
- David, Cincinnati, OH
As long as he is paying for this and not the Britsish taxpayers.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
What an intelligent comment Scott. Kind of explains the 'warm' feelings the rest of the world feel for America at the moment doesn't it? And this from a country that has George Bush as a leader!!
Prince Charles may be privileged, but he does more to raise concern for the environment than most, he does more for the under-privileged through the Prince's Trust than most and he is passionately committed to an ethical farming industry. Maybe the USA could learn a great deal from him Scott.
- Tim, UK
The cabin crew of that flight must be scrambling to be sick that day, finding stand in crew members may prove to be difficult.
- Michael, Spokane, Washington
To all the Yanks who have commented: Jeez, pot kettle guys!
- Dean, London, UK
Charles saves the World! Wow!
- Patrick Curry, Irvine, CA USA
God Save the Queen! May she reign for many, many more years!
- Dan, Columbia, South Carolina USA
Chuck can fly with those Dumbo ears. Why must he destroy our precious planet with his ego driven self indulgences? Charlie, strap your entourage to you back, and flap your ears!
- Scott, New York, New York USA
He is thinking and responding, which is much more than anybody else is doing regardless of their social status, including those who are criticizing his efforts.
What have you done today to reduce your carbon footprint?
- Tom Minch, Hudson, Ohio
He would fit in nicely in Hollywood. They are all hypocrites.
- Robert, Chicago, IL, USA
Do as I say, not as I do.
- Hc, USA
People in the UK have finally gone off the deep end. You have to be kidding. This is going to save the planet?
- Bijuno, Madison USA
None of them do, Squiz.
- Jay, London
C'mon Charlie, do your speech by video link and get them to post the pretty award to you.
- Andy, London
By simply refusing to let people, regardless of who they are, travel in this manner we would help the environment greatly. Prince Charles should be ashamed of himself and ought to have a rethink about his travel arrangements in the future!
- Elizabeth, London
Oh the irony. He hasn't got a clue has he?
- Squiz, Islington
The royal family can't help but make mistakes like this, preach on one hand and then doing the complete opposite when they want to. This is something which is abused frequently by the royal family and needs to be stopped!
- Robert, E17
This is completely unacceptable for Prince Charles to do this. He should be setting an example for everyone else rather than living in luxury!
- Maria, East London
One rule for him and another for the rest of us mere mortals. It's always the same though. I say, get him out planting trees to make up for the carbon emmissions!
- Laurie, Wandsworth, London
Prince Charles is a fine specimen of a royal. Yes, he has had his flaws, but he honestly does a good job. Pity about Camilla, though. Oh well - you can't win them all!
- Queen Beena, Wembley
How hypocritical, there is no need at all for this. A 20 strong entourage and requiring an entire first class section to themselves is completely out of order.
I think his 'green' award should be taken back after this revelation!
- Anne, Ealing, London
This man is a fraud and a burden on the taxpayer. The sooner we rid ourselves of the monarchy the better it will be for both the nvironment and the impoverished subjects of this once proud land!
- Greg, Brixton
What a disgrace! Why does he need to fly to recieve an award? Why can't he have it sent to him? I think it really damages the cause when our supposed leaders are undermining us at every opportunity!
- Jack, Croydon
