Come gather ‘round people

THE times they are a changin’, your editor makes the case that the new king will not sit on his hands when it comes to combating climate change.
THE tagline on the front cover of Reconnect says: “Celebrating community wellbeing, resilience and adaptation during these times of change – powered by the people.” Well it’s certainly a time of change for this country we now have a new Monarch and a new Prime Minister. For more than 50 years as Prince of Wales, Charles, spoke out about the perils of climate change and the need for concerted global action to protect the environment. As early as 1970 he warned of the dangerous effects of plastic pollution in his first major speech on the environment. Some say the monarch must remain out of politics, I say our environment, wellbeing and quite possibly survival is not really reduced to just a political issue. I think, a man who sought to bring about a greater awareness about climate change will not remain silent, and on the sidelines of the environmental movement. Not now when the effects of global warming are so much more obvious – a cause of global and universal concern. In his first speech King Charles pledged to uphold “constitutional principles” and accepted “it will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.” Monarch’s have remained strictly neutral with respect to political matters, since Charles the First was overthrown back in the 17th century, as the result of the civil war that divided our nations into two camps: Parliamentarians and Royalists, and saw Parliament take Britain’s political ground. Since then each monarch’s reign has avoided public statements about political matters, or declared a personal opinion outside of palace walls. But that’s not to say our late Queen didn’t have immense influence. Over the years, we are aware she subtly used her power to influence global issues particularly within the Commonwealth. Less than a year ago Charles at COP26 declared that climate change is an “existential threat” that puts humanity on “a war-like footing if we hope to defeat it.” The nations of the world he said had to begin “radically transforming” their economies away from fossil fuels. Additionally all 56 nations comprising the Commonwealth have committed to helping each other achieve prosperity through sustainable development, and “in particular by addressing the adaptation and mitigation challenges of climate change.” My formative years were in the Commonwealth, on Vanuatu, a tiny island in the Pacific. One of numerous low-lying island nations uniquely susceptible to sea level rise and worsening tropical storms. Another Commonwealth country, Pakistan, has just experienced deluges have put one-third of the country underwater. Australia is one of fourteen Commonwealth countries that will recognize Charles as their head of state. Their Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese feels it would be appropriate for Charles to keep advocating for the climate. He said recently: “I think dealing with the challenge of climate change shouldn’t be seen as a political issue,” adding that it’s about our “survival as a world.” To the World Economic Forum 2020 Charles asked, “Do we want to go down in history as the people who did nothing to bring the world back from the brink?” Answering his own question he replied: “I don’t want to.” Out in those faraway former colonies, with environmental catastrophes unfolding, high profile environmental activists are making the case that it’s imperative for Charles to remain engaged on environmental matters, it is not a case of politics, but of morality. As part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, Charles, launched the Terra Carta last year – a mandate that put sustainability at the heart of the private sector. A recovery plan for climate action that places “nature, people and planet at the centre of global value creation.” In the foreword, Charles tellingly, says it “inspired a belief in the fundamental rights and liberties of people” making the case that climate action can be deemed a constitutional principle. As the Commonwealth collectively faces one of the most dire emergencies of any civilization, Charles’ former press secretary, Julian Payne, suggested he could as king gather “the best brains and the most experienced people and listen to their ideas.” I’m thinking surely he will, and then act. Our new Prime Minister Liz Truss’ stance on climate action is of great concern. Appointing climate sceptics and deniers to senior positions; in transportation, energy, trade and environment, and calling on the return of fracking and fossil fuel extraction despite the price of gas being set internationally, and the environmental damage caused. It seems history is repeating – a King Charles and the head of parliament are set on opposing sides. Harking back to the cover I’d suggest it’s people power that will again decide who will win. Charles must make combating climate change the key focus of his reign. It will become a dominant issue as its impacts are increasingly widespread and catastrophic throughout the Commonwealth, and the world. I suspect it’s probably also the only way he will make his monarchy relevant to those other Nations in the coming decades.