Charles urges nations to use traditional knowledge ‘to save the planet’

The Prince of Wales has urged nations to “learn practical lessons from traditional knowledge” to help save the planet as he visited a remote Canadian community living with the cost of climate change.

Charles held up the example of “indigenous knowledge keepers” as those with the skills to bring humanity back from the brink, as he learned how rising temperatures are threatening an “ice road” providing a vital connection for villagers to the outside world.

In a speech to mark the end of his three-day tour of Canada with the Duchess of Cornwall, Charles also “acknowledged” the suffering of survivors of the country’s residential school scandal that saw thousands of indigenous children die or be abused over decades.

His comments came after he faced calls from an indigenous leader for the Queen to apologise for the “genocide”.

During their visit, the prince and duchess met those who experienced abuse at the schools and in his address Charles said: “We must listen to the truth of the lived experiences of indigenous peoples, and we should work to understand better their pain and suffering.”

Speaking at a Platinum Jubilee ceremony at the Ceremonial Circle in Yellowknife, Charles sounded a pessimistic note about the future of the planet.

He said: “I am afraid that climate change and biodiversity loss know no borders; global markets and supply chains are deeply inter-connected and time is rapidly running out.

“To succeed, we will need to restore our relationship with nature, challenge the status quo, innovate new business and financial models, work across borders at scale and ensure a just and sustainable transition for all.”

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