The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have asked fans to consider their carbon footprint, just days after new figures show the Royal Household’s emissions doubled last year.
Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, who made a surprise appearance at the London Stadium yesterday to promote the Duke’s Invictus Games Foundation, took to Instagram in the early hours of Monday as a continuation of their monthly social awareness campaign.
Revealing that they were dedicating July to environmental issues, the passionate pair unfollowed the accounts linked to mental health awareness which they focused on in June, and followed 15 new accounts – including Leonardo DiCaprio’s wildlife foundation.
A direct quote from Harry encouraged followers to consider their carbon footprint, adding ‘every action makes a difference’.
A report released last week showed that 2019 CO2 emission total for the royal family’s business travel was 3,344 tonnes, compared to 1,687 tonnes in 2018, causing travel emissions to rise by 98%.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have visited Morocco and Dublin, as well as Sydney, Melbourne, Fraser Island, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand as part of their Australia tour, on official business in the past year.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared a passionate post pleading with followers to help minimise further environmental damage
The pregnant Duchess of Sussex is seen boarding a private jet to New York from London for her baby shower earlier this year
The Royal Family’s greenhouse gas emissions grew by 3% to 8,393 tonnes, due to an increase in the use of ‘chartered large fixed wing aircraft for foreign business travel’.
Most journeys were taken by Charles and Camilla, who visited the Caribbean, Africa and Europe on behalf of the Queen.
But proving they are keen to make a difference, today’s Instagram post by Sussex Royal shows penguins in the arctic, turtles, children holding environmental action signs across the world, and a sea of plastic bottles, along with the new accounts it follows, including Rhino Conservation Botswana and National Geographic, tagged.
Other accounts include the African Parks Network, Elephants Without Borders, Wilderness Foundation UK, WWF International, Australian Geographic, Rhino Conservation Botswana, Zero Hour, Everyday Climate Change, Dr. Jane Goodall, Ocean Heroes Bootcamp, Greta Thunberg, Mike Bloomberg, Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.
The caption reads: ‘As a continuation of our monthly social awareness approach to shine a light on the accounts that are working towards positive change, for the month of July we turn our attention to the environment.
The post, which shows penguins in the arctic, turtles, children holding environmental action signs across the world, and a sea of plastic bottles has tagged the new accounts it follows, including Rhino Conservation Botswana and National Geographic
Revealing that they were dedicating July to environmental issues, the passionate pair unfollowed the accounts linked to mental health awareness which they focused on in June, and followed 15 new accounts – including Leonardo DiCaprio’s wildlife foundation
‘There is a ticking clock to protect our planet – with climate change, the deterioration of our natural resources, endangerment of sacred wildlife, the impact of plastics and microplastics, and fossil fuel emissions, we are jeopardizing this beautiful place we call home – for ourselves and for future generations. Let’s save it. Let’s do our part.’
A quote from Harry adds: ‘Environmental damage has been treated as a necessary by-product of economic growth.
‘So deeply ingrained is this thinking that it has been considered part of the natural order that humankind’s development comes at the expense of our planet.
CO2 emissions for the whole Royal Household rose from 1,687 in 2018 to 3,344 in 2019, despite a 24 per cent fall in energy use at the palace. Prince Charles, seen greeting the Trumps at Buckingham Palace last month, topped the royal family’s bill, racking up a £1.3million travel bill
‘Only now are we starting to notice and understand the damage that we’ve been causing. With nearly 7.7 billion people inhabiting this Earth, every choice, every footprint, every action makes a difference.’
New figures from the overall Royal Household released last week revealed there was a fall in energy use at Buckingham Palace, following efforts from the Palace to reduce its environmental impact.
But CO2 emissions for the whole Royal Household rose from 1,687 in 2018 to 3,344 in 2019, despite a 24 per cent fall in energy use at the palace.
Officials said it was a matter of regret but stressed that increased foreign travel on behalf of the Government were responsible for the rise.
‘This is clearly linked to five major overseas visits rather than one the previous year,’ one official insisted.
A spokesman for the Prince of Wales pointed out that his emissions had risen by only 2 per cent overall, despite increased travel requests.
In the financial year ending March 31, 2019, figures revealed that the Royal Family spent £4.6 million on travel.
Prince Charles topped the royal family’s bill, racking up a £1.3million travel bill due to official overseas travel in the place of the Queen.
Western Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil said: ‘This is not so much a carbon footprint as a yeti print. Everybody knows that the Royal Family do a great job but they have to be reasonable about their travel and take scheduled flights where appropriate.
‘What is particularly disappointing is that Prince Charles is a leading proponent of urging measures to tackle climate change but is not setting a very good example with these chartered flights. I am surprised that it has cost nearly £200,000 to fly to and from Scotland given his green credentials – especially when most of these flights seem to be just for him.
‘There’s always the train, but even then, in Charles’ case, that cost over £22,000 one way.’
Kate and William frequently take helicopters to UK destinations including Blackpool and Norfolk. Prince George is seen in a helicopter in Hamburg in 2017