In a pre-recorded speech to a UN sustainability conference in Brazil, he warned of the potentially 'catastrophic' consequences of inaction on issues such a climate change and global food security.
In the video address, shown to the Rio+20 High Level Dialogue on Global Sustainability, Prince Charles said: 'I have watched in despair at how slow progress has sometimes been and how the outright, sceptical reluctance by some to engage with the critical issues of our day have often slowed that progress to a standstill.
'Already levels of CO2 have exceeded 400 parts per million; 450 parts per million is the tipping point we have to avoid so every day of delay threatens to make the change more dramatic.'
He added that scientific evidence shows the potential consequences and warned we can no longer ignore the risk.
He said: 'One thing is clear. We need to be much more informed about the actual state of the planet. We do not have nearly enough knowledge on which to base the decisions that will be the best for the long term.
'Until we do, we expose ourselves to the mounting danger of major shifts in policy that are not well conceived, but come as panicked responses to crises that could have been avoided.' Read the full report here.
Source: by Jill Reilly, Mail Online.
