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Prince makes rainforest plea for climate

16 May 2008

Halting tree logging in the world's rainforests would be the most effective way to tackle climate change, the Prince of Wales has said.

Describing rainforests as the "air conditioning system" for the entire planet, Prince Charles called on the world's wealthiest nations to devise a plan to save the rainforests.

Speaking on the Today programme, he said nations would be "crazy to ignore¿ all the scientific evidence" about rainforests and global warming.

"It is immensely complex so it is not just a question of stopping deforestation in its tracks, but you have to start looking at all the other interrelated elements such as water, agriculture, and of course governance and transparency", Prince Charles advised.

"Halting deforestation would be the easiest and cheapest way of helping in the fight against climate change.

"Waiting for all the new technologies to come on stream is... not going to be soon enough."

The heir to the throne warned that failure to slow down deforestation would lead to "far more" drought and starvation on a "grand scale".

"We are asking for something pretty dreadful unless we really understand the issues now and the urgency of those issues," Prince Charles added.

And he said this generation's grandchildren would not forgive inactivity on the part of politicians and business leaders.

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