Prince Albert II Calls for Action on Climate Change

Monaco’s Prince Albert II spoke at a press conference at the United Nations Tuesday, addressing the issue of climate change and its effect on the Arctic.

Reuters

“We have no choice: we must protect Arctic ice,” the Prince said.

“Enable it to continue to act as an essential temperature regulator for the planet, avoid the catastrophic rise in sea levels that would result from the ice melt, and stop the disappearance of permafrost releasing irreversible quantities of greenhouse gases back into the atmosphere. It is a duty for ourselves and for all of humanity – for our children, of course, but also all those who are already suffering the dramatic effects of these developments.”

Albert also called for the international community to solve the trouble with air pollution.

“We must not forget there are four million people representing thirty different cultures, all intimately related to the natural environment…Therefore we appeal to the eight Arctic governments. We solemnly ask them to work together to provide effective and rapid reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the establishment of a network monitoring and control to measure and prevent real-time the evolution of Arctic ice.”

Prince Albert was not alone in his press conference. He was joined by fellow members of the Aspen Institute Commission on Arctic Climate Change, including the President of the Natural Resources Defense Council Frances Beinecke, Director General of WWF International Jim Leape, Chancellor of the University of Alaska Fran Ulmer, Inuit Advocate Sheila Watt-Cloutier, and Lindblad Expeditions Founder & President Sven Lindblad.