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TRH continue their tour of Japan and The Prince gives a speech about the environment

28th October 2008

The Prince of Wales today warned governments around the world not to let concerns with the global "credit crunch" distract them from the growing problem of the "climate crunch".

In a speech to businessmen and government officials in Japan, The Prince said the financial turmoil reinforced the idea that tackling the major environmental problem could stimulate economic activity.

The Prince made the comments during a visit to the Miraikan Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, on the first full day of an official tour of Japan with The Duchess of Cornwall.

The Prince said the world owed Japan a "debt of gratitude" for hosting the ground-breaking climate change conference at Kyoto in 1997.

He added: "Given the current turbulence in the international financial system and the immediate and damaging effect it is having on the whole world, the 'credit crunch' is rightly a preoccupation of vast significance and importance.

"But, ladies and gentlemen, we take our eye off the 'climate crunch' at our peril.

"While we hope and pray that the underlying strengths of the global economy will - once again - enable it to bounce back, the effects of climate change will be far from temporary and will, indeed, be irreversible."

He went on to say: "It seems to me that the current international financial difficulties serve only to reinforce the message that positive action to tackle climate change could in fact be a stimulant to economic activity."

The Prince also highlighted how pictures taken by the Japanese Space Agency had recorded the degradation to rainforests around the world – with 130,000 square kilometres lost each year.

His Royal Highness said: "The scale of the challenge is clear - nothing less than an urgent, full-scale transformation to a low-carbon society is needed."

He added: "For developed countries like the UK and Japan, it means a cut in current carbon emissions of 70 per cent to 80 per cent by 2050."

The Prince also stated that his Prince's Rainforest Project, launched last year to develop an innovative public-private initiative to tackle deforestation, would be making its first draft proposals in the coming weeks.

He ended his address by speaking in Japanese and quoting a local proverb which translated as "do not say anything - just take action".

During his tour of the museum The Prince came face to face with ASIMO - Advance Steps In Mobility - a robot that can perform a range of human actions from running to dancing.

The machine, which is 90cm tall and weighs more than 40kg, announced its arrival by running in front of The Prince then waving its hands about its head and saying "Konnichi-wa", which means "Good Afternoon".

After a few minutes it began gyrating to booming dance music and performed a number of disco moves that would not be out of place in the nightclubs of Tokyo.

ASIMO held its arms up in the air before moving them out to the side but always stayed in time to the beat.

The robot also showed it had mastered the trick of balancing on one leg and demonstrated the move with outstretched arms before saying "bye bye" to The Prince.

The Prince was taken around the museum by its director Dr Mamoru Mohri, a veteran of two NASA space shuttle missions, who showed The Prince a toilet used by astronauts installed in a space habitation module.

Earlier battling Japanese Kendo fighters mesmerised The Prince and Duchess with an impressive display.

The Prince and The Duchess watched in amazement as the two opponents sparred with each other during their visit to Keio University - one of Japan's most prestigious institutions.

The battle began with an ear shattering scream and lasted for around four minutes as the barefooted fighters dressed in traditional body armour and protective masks attacked each other with bamboo swords.

The Tokyo-based university is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and showcased the best of its research and cultural activities for Their Royal Highnesses.

Before the fencing began The Prince and The Duchess saw a performance of Kabuki, traditional Japanese theatre popular since the 17th Century that features actors in elaborate make up performing stylised drama.

Click here to read the speech in full.
Click here to find out more about The Prince's Rainforest Project.