GOD SAVE THE GREEN

Campaigners urge King Charles III to champion the planet and help tackle the climate crisis Calls for tougher action amid raging wildfires and soaring temperatures on land and in oceans

- DAN VEVERS

KING CHARLES was yesterday urged to champion the planet and get involved in tackling the climate crisis as he received the Scottish crown.

At a ceremony in Edinburgh, the King was presented with the Honours of Scotland to symbolise his authority as monarch north of the Border.

But campaigners said the new King must use his position to raise awareness of climate issues - as he did when he was heir.

Patrick Harvie, Scottish Government minister and co-leader of the Scottish Greens, hit out at the pageantry of yesterday's royal event saying it was a "circus" amid signs of a deepening climate emergency.

But he insisted the new King could make a difference in tackling the largest challenge facing humanity.

Speaking to the Record, Green MSP Harvie alluded to Charles's previous activism on environmental issues - but warned his work was "cut out" to aid in the climate fight thanks to Westminster's actions.

Harvie said: "Despite yesterday's circus, these are extremely serious times.

"The horrific wildfires and soaring temperatures we have seen are a stark reminder that the climate crisis is the greatest environmental challenge that will be faced by this generation and all future generations.

"If our planet is to have any kind of sustainable future then it will need much tougher climate action, not just in the UK but around the world."

He added: "We are told that Charles will be an environmentalist king. If that is the case then he has his work cut out, because even Tories are openly admitting that the Prime Minister is simply not interested in the climate and nature emergency.

"Instead he is doubling down on oil and gas at a time when the world is burning around us."

Other campaigners went further, saying the King himself is part of the climate problem.