Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's carbon footprint is 26 times higher than the average person, according to a former member of the parliament (MP), who reportedly did his own research on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's eco-activities.
MP Norman Baker, who was the former transport minister during David Cameron's term, said that, based on his study, Prince Harry and Meghan's overseas trips alone generated at least 215 tons of carbon within a year. The average person in Britain generates just 8.3 tons annually.
Baker noted that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had 53 international flights from January 2019 to January 2020. He, also, speculated that the couple's home in Beverly Hills, which is at least 24,500 square feet in size, is not energy efficient.
He criticized the Sussex couple for calling themselves "eco-warriors" and lecturing people about climate change when they belong to the top one percent of people with the most carbon emissions. The former politician advised the Sussex pair to cut their carbon footprint or "at least cut the cr**" and stop professing the need to focus on climate change."
It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan were, recently, called out for using a Cadillac Escalade in Los Angeles. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen waiting for their car in Beverly Hills on Friday, July 10.
Critics said that the couple's choice for an SUV is the worst when it came to carbon emissions. The Cadillac Escalade is apparently considered one of the most polluting vehicles in the planet.
But, Prince Harry and Meghan are not the only ones getting criticisms for their double standard and hypocrisy. Prince Charles was also called out in June for receiving donations from the owner of an Australian mining firm, Rio Tinto, which has been named in reports and studies on carbon emissions.
Experts said that Rio Tinto has not done anything to address its practice of contributing to the earth's pollution in its decades of operation. The owner of the mining firm, Alexandra Burt, is, reportedly, listed as one of the biggest donors of the Prince's Trust.
But, in February 2020, Rio Tinto published a 2019 Climate Change Report stating that the company was able to reduce its emissions by 46 percent since 2008. The company plans to lower this by 15 percent more in 2030.
A spokesperson for Burt said via Daily Mirror that it's the company supports Prince Charles' foundation as they have a shared philosophy when it comes to sustainable development.
Meanwhile, in August 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan were slammed for taking four private plane trips in 11 days. Because of the backlash, Prince Harry formed the eco-travel initiative Travalyst, which collaborates with major travel-related industries in boosting eco-tourism.
