Why Global Citizens Should Care
The climate crisis is an issue that requires immediate attention. Global Goal 13 for climate action underpins this urgency — if we don’t make real progress this decade, there will be no going back. That’s why this Prince Charles-backed initiative is so important: it brings even more people into the climate movement. Learn more about the ecological crisis and take action here.

It’s been 805 years since King John first agreed to the Magna Carta, a royal charter that protected certain rights in England. While it ceases to serve much practical purpose today — its modern relevance has been wildly misunderstood — it’s a document of immense historical significance. It was arguably the founding moment where the UK inched towards democracy.

But while the British monarchy found the Magna Carta a bitter pill to swallow — all those pesky limitations on far-reaching powers! — that same ancient institution is now attempting to draw on its success to take on the planet’s biggest threat: the climate crisis.

It’s called the Terra Carta, or Earth Charter, a plan that will commit businesses to a decade of environmentalism. 

Prince Charles launched the charter on Monday at the One Planet Summit in Paris, as he personally marked 50 years campaigning on the climate crisis.

The heir to Queen Elizabeth II’s throne is urging private industry to sign up to the plan that he hopes will "reunite people and planet” with nearly 100 actions to become sustainable by 2030.

Those actions include financial commitments to a future with low emissions and backing major international climate agreements.

The Terra Carta aims to raise $10bn (£7bn) in green investment before 2022 through the Natural Capital Investment Alliance. It’s being backed by huge international corporations including HSBC, Bank of America, and BlackRock — companies historically linked to the fossil fuel industry, according to the Guardian.

“Today, I am making an urgent appeal to leaders, from all sectors and from around the world, to join us in this endeavour, and to give their support to this ‘Terra Carta’ – to bring prosperity into harmony with nature, people, and planet over the coming decade,” Charles said.

“I can only encourage, in particular, those in industry and finance to provide practical leadership to this common project, as only they are able to mobilise the innovation, scale, and resources that are required to transform our global economy,” he added.

Prince Charles announced the charter through the Building Sustainable Markets Initiative, a group he launched in January 2020 to bring world leaders together to decarbonise the economy. 

News

Defend the Planet

Britain’s Prince Charles Urges Businesses to Join ‘Earth Charter’ in £7 Billion Plan for Sustainability

By James Hitchings-Hales