MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Prince Charles: rich countries should pay annual “utility bill”

HRH preaching one of his dearest environmental causes

Britain's Prince Charles has called for rich countries to pay an annual “utility bill” for the benefits given to the world by its rainforests. Speaking in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, the prince called rainforests the “world's greatest public utility”. They act as an air conditioner, store fresh water and provide work, he said.

The proposal by the Prince's Rainforest Project would generate funds allowing rainforest countries to change their practices and halt deforestation. The Prince of Wales outlined the plan in a speech to the Indonesian President, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his cabinet in Jakarta. He told the audience at the Merdeka Palace: "Indonesia and the other rainforest nations are stewards of the world's greatest public utility". "The rest of us have to start paying for it, just as we do for water, gas and electricity." He added: "Payments should have the characteristics of a commercial transaction, in the same way we pay for our water, gas and electricity. "In return the rainforest nations would provide eco-services such as carbon storage, fresh water and the protection of biodiversity." The prince said the forests provided a livelihood for more than a billion people. As developed nations were the driving force behind their destruction, through a demand for products like beef, palm oil, soya and logs, they should be billed for their protection, he said. It is hoped that a large part of the funds raised from the "utility bills" would come from bonds issued by a international body. Describing the form the annual billing could take, the prince said: "These emergency funds could be provided directly by developed world governments, perhaps from expanded development aid budgets, from surcharges on activities which cause climate change or from the auction of carbon market emission allowances. "However, I hope that even in the short term the large part of the required funding could be provided by the private sector by subscribing to long-term bonds issued by an international agency. "The issuing entity would pay the proceeds from the bonds to the rainforest nations. They in turn would use the money to re-orientate their economies to halt or refrain from deforestation." The Prince also laid a wreath at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in the Jakarta suburb of Menteng Pulo, where the remains of more than 1,100 men and women of British, Commonwealth and Imperial forces are buried. He was joined by the Indonesia-based ambassadors of six countries whose soldiers are buried there - New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, India, South Africa and Canada. Earlier on his Indonesian visit, the Prince visited the Harapan Rainforest conservation project on the island of Sumatra as part of his 10-day tour of Asia. Indonesia is the final leg of his tour. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also visited Japan and Brunei, but he travelled to Indonesia alone as his wife has returned to Britain for other engagements.