Meghan Markle, Prince Harry urge fans to 'save the planet' while royal carbon emissions have doubled in a year
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have asked their fans and followers to consider their carbon footprint days after figures revealed that the royal household's emissions had doubled since last year.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took to Instagram on Monday to share a post that was dedicated to pressing environmental issues and warned that climate change, fossil fuel emissions, and plastics were threatening and endangering the planet: "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."
However, the couple's Instagram warning has landed them in a soup, given the recently-revealed quantum of royal travel.
It was just last week that reports revealed that 2019 CO2 emission for the royal family's business travel was around 3,344 tonnes as compared to 1,687 tonnes in 2018, an increase of 98%.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had visited Morocco and Dublin, as well as Sydney, Melbourne, Fraser Island, Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand as part of their Australia tour last year.
However, the most number of trips were by Prince Charles and Camilla Parker who had visited the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe on behalf of the Queen.
The family's gas emissions had risen by 3% to 8,393 tonnes, given the increased use of 'chartered large fixed-wing aircraft for foreign business travel.'
In the Instagram post, Prince Harry said, "Environmental damage has been treated as a necessary byproduct of economic growth. 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 action makes a difference."
Both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had urged their followers to take a look at 15 Instagram accounts on climate change and environment. These included accounts of 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg, Leonardo Di Caprio's climate change foundation and Elephants Without Borders.
"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."
While some people praised the couple for their stand on the environment, others branded them as hypocrites.
One such fan wrote, "Wait, guys. You can’t fly private jets in your personal life and then post this kind of thing. Either live it or don’t. Truly. Walk the talk. Otherwise, it’s hypocrisy."
Another fan added, "Great initiative, but what about all the flying and driving done by the entire royal family? What about the outrageous size of the housing, the cost of the clothing, etc. Perhaps it’s time to set an example. Be the change our planet needs."
The 'warning for fans' also comes after their decision to hold the christening of their first son baby Archie in private and also following reports about the extravagant £2.4m taxpayer-funded renovation to their home in Frogmore Cottage.