Prince Charles urges business leaders to take action against climate change
A week after making comments about Putin, prince's speech stirs more controversy
Britain's Prince Charles has warned business leaders to take action against climate change or watch the world continue on a path to destruction - the latest forthright comment from the heir to the throne in a month when his views have caused political and diplomatic waves.
Charles sparked a diplomatic spat last week by comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler, with some lawmakers calling for the 65-year-old prince to keep his personal opinions private.
But he showed on Tuesday that he is determined to voice his opinions, calling on an audience of global business leaders to take tough choices over climate change and capitalism even if it made them unpopular.
He said the world was at the mercy of people vociferously and aggressively denying that the current operating model was accelerating climate change which he feared could destroy the world.
"We can choose to act now before it is finally too late, using all of the power and influence that each of you can bring to bear to create an inclusive, sustainable and resilient society," he told a conference in London titled Inclusive Capitalism.
He added: "There will, of course, be hard choices to make, and, take it from me, in the short term, you will not be popular with your peers. But if you stand firm and take the kind of action that is needed, I have every confidence the rewards will be immense."