Britain's Prince Charles admits he is worried about climate change

Oct 27, 2005, 13:38 GMT

Britain's Prince Charles admits he is worried about climate change and says it is the "greatest challenge to face man".

The heir to the throne wants the issue to be treated as a much bigger priority in the UK and said he did not want his future grandchildren to ask why he had not acted over the issue.

The royal admitted climate change "really worries" him and says it is a big issue for the future of farming.

He said: "We should be treating the whole issue of climate change and global warming with a far greater degree of priority than I think is happening  now."

He said moves should be taken to ensure "there was something left to hand on" to future generations.

Prince Charles said small family farms were "vital" for the preservation of the English countryside.

He explained to Britain's BBC: "I think we would be foolish to expect that we can import everything from somewhere else and imagine that this is going to last forever, and ever and ever."

He said factors such as climate change, global warming and the cost of fuel could make things "very complicated" in the future.

The prince said consumers "can make a huge difference" by the choices made when shopping as well as by pushing supermarkets and other retailers to do things "that perhaps they are not already doing".

Charles also spoke of his fears for the industrialisation of farming and said agriculture must be thought of as a "culture" and not an industry.

He said: "We've got to be a bit careful otherwise we could end up completely industrialising the landscape because it is efficient."

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