Charles launches charter to protect the planet

The Prince of Wales is to launch an ambitious M ag na Cart a-style charter to encourage the private sector to safeguard the planet by adopting sustainability and invest 10 billion dollars (£7.3 billion) in “natural capital”.

At a global environmental summit, Charles will urge industry and business leaders to sign up to his 10 - year project that puts “nature, people and planet at the heart of global value creation”.

Called Terra Carta, or Earth Charter, the initiative has parallels with the Magna Carta - the touchstone for human rights and modern democracy – and aims to lay out a “recovery plan” towards sustainability that gives fundamental rights and value to nature.

In his foreword to the Terra Carta, the prince writes: “If we consider the legacy of our generation, more than 800 years ago, Magna Carta inspired a belief in the fundamental rights and liberties of people.

“As we strive to imagine the next 800 years of human progress , the fundamental rights and value of nature must represent a step-change in our ‘future of industry’ and ‘future of economy’ approach.”

Charles will launch his project today at the One Planet Summit, being staged in Paris, when he is expected to tell delegates that “... sustainability is a choice. If we make it a part of our core values it will define our purpose, determine our choices and drive our actions”.

Speaking virtually the prince will say: “Today, I am making an urgent appeal to leaders, from all sectors and from around the world... to give their support to this Terra Carta – to bring prosperity into harmony with nature, people and planet over the coming decade.”