In light of sweltering temperatures, Prince Charles stresses the importance of national commitments to achieve net zero and tackle the climate emergency.

Amid a scorching heatwave that has seen temperatures exceed 38°C, Prince Charles has called for urgent action on climate change, declaring that tackling the crisis is “utterly essential” for the future of the UK and the world. Speaking at an outdoor event to mark his 70 years as Duke of Cornwall, Charles emphasised that national commitments to achieving net zero have never been more crucial.

The country is grappling with extreme heat, which has led to school closures, reduced train services, and increased pressure on emergency services, as ambulance crews face a rise in 999 calls. On Monday, temperatures hit 38.1°C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, marking the hottest day of the year, with many other locations across the country also exceeding 37°C.

Charles, who has long been a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability, reiterated his call for decisive action, stressing that climate change is no longer just a topic for discussion. “If I may say so,” he remarked, “commitments around net zero have never been more vitally important, as we all swelter under today’s alarming record temperatures across Britain and Europe.”

He went on to state that “the climate crisis is a genuine emergency,” and that urgent measures are necessary, not just for Cornwall and the UK, but for the entire planet. “Tackling it is utterly essential,” he concluded.

This call for action comes at a time when the UK, and much of Europe, is enduring its hottest summer on record, with temperatures soaring well beyond typical seasonal averages. In the lead-up to the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), Charles famously told delegates that the world could no longer afford to delay meaningful climate action, urging governments and industries to turn commitments into tangible results.

In a related development, Alok Sharma, the former COP26 President, has indicated that he may resign if the incoming UK Prime Minister does not commit fully to the net-zero agenda. Sharma, in an interview with The Observer, suggested that some candidates in the Tory leadership race have been “lukewarm” in their stance on climate change, making it a leadership issue.

Charles also took the opportunity to highlight the sustainable practices underway in Nansledan, an eco-friendly development in Newquay, Cornwall. The project, on land owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, aims to meet ambitious net zero carbon targets. “We have made progress in the development of Nansledan, as well as in the Duchy’s regenerative agricultural practices, by working closely with tenants, suppliers, and the people of Cornwall,” Charles noted, underlining the importance of collaboration in addressing the climate challenge.

In a more light-hearted moment, the Prince recalled an amusing experience from a visit to the Royal Cornwall Show, where he inadvertently followed a deaf chairman to the wrong tent, ending up in the lavatory section instead of the bee exhibit.

The couple also took the time to visit the village of Mousehole, near Penzance, where the temperatures were a cool 10°C lower than the sweltering 38°C in London. Camilla, carrying a parasol, joked with locals about the difference in climate, quipping, “I think I’m going to take off like Mary Poppins.”

As they continue their tour of Cornwall and Devon to mark 70 years since Charles became the Duke of Cornwall, the Prince’s message remains clear: the time to act on climate change is now, and the world must rise to meet the challenge.