'We do not have the right to steal our children’s future' – Prince Charles

The Prince of Wales called for sustainable practices to safeguard the future for business and for future generations

Prince Charles
Prince Charles

The Prince of Wales said that this CHOGM came at a crucial time for the future of mankind by safeguarding a sustainable future.

Addressing the Commonwealth Business Forum, Prince Charles insisted that we do not have the right to steal our children’s inheritance. “But we have a duty to act now,” he insisted.

Prince Charles said he was delighted to join the conference and praised the hard work that was done in the last few days and thanked the Maltese government for hosting the event.

He said that the upcoming climate change conference in Paris should not be a simple meet-up between old friends, but a crucial discussion for a positive change in the future.

“We live in a world where we expect a 35% increase in food demand and intend to reduce carbon emissions by 6%”, he added. The world’s population, he said, is expected to increase by another billion by the year 2025.

“Changes in society, be it a coal mine in Australia or the fields in Ghana, will affect your business, either today or in a couple of years’ time,” Prince Charles added.

He explained that the private sector is crucial and mentioned how world economies intend to spend $90 trillion in infrastructure in the next 15 years and insisted on the need to use renewable energy and to lower the carbon emissions by businesses.

“Economic benefits are under threat from pollution and habitat destruction. Our seas are becoming warmer and more acidic”, he said.

The Prince of Wales said that the world must find ways to finance the transition to a sustainable future. He mentioned that since the last CHOGM, member states have worked towards the development of a Blue Economy Framework.