Outspoken about the "existential" threat posed by climate change when he was Prince of Wales, King Charles III seemed to signal an effective end to his decades-long public advocacy for lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
In his first speech as king, Charles pledged to uphold the constitutional principles that kept the monarch out of politics.
Charles said in his speech that his life will change as he takes up his responsibilities. It won't be possible for me to give so much of my time and energy to the charities and issues for which I cared so much, but I know that the important work will go on in the hands of others.
The need to transition the global economy off of fossil fuels was a cause championed by Charles for more than 40 years. Climate change was an "existential threat to the extent that we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing", said Charles at the start of the United Nations climate change conference.
Three months later, Russia launched its own war on Ukraine, disrupting oil and gas supplies for Europe and the U.K.
With Russia cutting off deliveries of natural gas, the continent is bracing for an energy crisis that will send energy prices skyrocketing during the cold winter months and cause governments to resume oil exploration and use coal at a time when climate scientists warn that mankind needs to transition to renewable sources of energy or face extinction
On Thursday, Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister, announced measures to try to blunt the impact of skyrocketing energy prices over the coming months. Jacob Rees-Mogg has been appointed to oversee the country's energy sector.
Charles called for a shift in our economic model to place nature and the world's transition to net zero at the heart of how we operate.
Charles didn't think a continued reliance on oil was a good idea. The king doesn't have control over the government's policies.
Ranil has spoken out against the installation of solar farms on agricultural land.
Over the years, Charles has been a champion of solar power, winning approval in 2021 to install panels atop London's Clarence House, his former residence.
Climate change was central to Charles' role as Prince of Wales and he had made the issue a priority. Those who thought his activism was overstepping the bounds of the monarchy criticized him.
The new king didn't mention "climate change" in his Friday speech, but that didn't stop people from talking.
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