The Prince of Wales, who warned last year that there were "less than 100 months" to save the planet from irreversible damage due to climate change, is stepping up his own efforts.
The heir to the throne has launched a global project to prevent ecological disaster, the International Sustainability Unit, for which he has ambitious plans.
"This is the most important cause that His Royal Highness has ever taken on," says one of Prince Charles's friends. "He hopes that the unit will make a real difference on the global stage. He knows that it's a controversial issue, but considers it of such importance that he is prepared to take risks."
A spokesman for the Prince says the organisation will work with national governments and global bodies such as the World Bank to promote "sustainable" development. "The ISU will continue the Prince's rainforest work while also engaging with other urgent issues, in particular the marine environment (and especially over-fishing), sustainable agriculture and preserving ecosystem services," says the spokesman.
"The unit aims to address the depletion of the world's natural capital by helping to create a consensus as to the best ways to enhance long-term food, water and energy security."
Last year, Mandrake disclosed that Charles had resigned as president of a charity he set up to foster "responsible behaviour'' by multi-national companies, the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum. His spokesman told me that he had done so to concentrate on "environmental challenges".
While other organisations have been forced to cut their activities because of the economic crisis, the Prince's Charities are now advertising for senior staff at the unit, which will be led by Justin Mundy, a former adviser to the Labour government under Tony Blair.
In a keynote speech last year in Brazil, which is home to the world's largest rainforest, the Prince said the need to tackle global warming was more urgent than ever and that, even in a global recession, the world must not lose sight of the "bigger picture". He later criticised those who doubt climate change.
