The Prince of Wales? speech on climate change today to the European Parliament has been warmly welcomed by Friends of the Earth. The environmental campaign group congratulated the Prince for highlighting the scale of the climate challenge that the world faces, his call for urgent action ? comparable with going on a war-footing ? and his recognition that government action to develop a low-carbon economic and political framework is essential if the world is to successfully combat the threat. His call for countries to be paid to protect forests ? ?this vital global utility? ? was also welcomed.