Prince Charles Eco-Attacked for Caribbean Cruise

Critics are jumping on Prince Charles and Camilla's Caribbean vacation/official visit for its alleged impact on the climate.

The prince, known for eco-activism, is taking the super-yacht Leander, which together with other choices on the trip, should result in a 40% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, relative to the last similar visit to the region in 2000.

Not so, say critics.

"It may be a shock to Charles to learn the full extent of his cruise's potential impact," writes the London Independent. "Leander is expected to cover 1,500 miles, at a modest 15 knots. Assuming the fuel consumption rate is no more than 50 litres a mile, the ship will use 75,000 litres of diesel on the trip. The National Energy Foundation website says the cruise will pump a total of some 200 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, enough to fly the average passenger from London to New York 260 times.

COMMENTS ()