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By Yuliya Talmazan
Be that as it may be during President Donald Trump's state visit to the United Kingdom, one of the most difficult meetings could be his Monday afternoon tea with his heir to the British throne, Prince Charles.
While the smiles and jokes will probably be in abundance, the two men have very different positions on the environment.
For more than 40 years, the Prince of Wales has spoken openly about a number of environmental issues facing the planet.
Meanwhile, President Trump has previously publicly accused climate scientists of having a "political agenda". Before taking office, he described the concept of man-made warming as "rogue" and "hoax".
It is unclear whether the two will actually engage in environmental discussions during their meeting.
But if that were to happen, many media outlets in the UK have already speculated that the meeting could become uncomfortable, given that Trump is not likely to remain silent if the problem is raised.
The administration of President Trump has been accused of downplaying the threat of climate change and questioning the science behind it.
The president notably withdrew the United States from the 2015 Paris climate agreement aimed at reducing emissions at the root of climate change, saying it was too expensive for the American people and brought only few tangible gains.
Last year, the Trump administration was also accused of hiding information on climate change on US government websites.
He boasted of the US status of the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas, even tweeting the day before arriving in the UK. that "we are exporting freedom and opportunities abroad" after the first shipment of liquefied natural gas from a Louisiana terminal. He also promised to bring back more jobs in the coal mines.
Trump also questioned the report presented last year by his own government on the devastating economic impact of climate change in the United States.
When asked about the results, he replied, "I do not believe it."
In contrast, 70-year-old Prince Charles has been championing sustainability for decades through speeches, articles, books and films.
He has always used his influence to raise awareness on issues such as climate change, deforestation and ocean pollution.
Its Rainforest project, launched in 2007, is trying to combat tropical deforestation, which scientists say contributes to climate change.
In 2017, he delivered a historic speech in Malta on the conservation of the ocean and the circular economy.
More recently, during a tour of the Caribbean this year, he spoke of "potentially catastrophic global warming," praising the younger generation for making its voice heard about climate change that was threatening its future.
"When he talks about the environment, he talks about wanting the world to be a better place for his grandchildren and that the world be preserved for them," said Caroline Harris, a royal author, at NBC News.
His official website indicates that the prince has received numerous awards for his environmental work while trying to live more sustainable.
Traditionally, senior officials of the royal family remain out of politics, but we know that Charles walked on the line. In 2015, letters that he wrote to ministers, including environmental missives, became public.
A source close to Charles said "it remains very likely" that climate change will be discussed, speculated a British tabloid last month.
That the Prince remains a diplomat and avoids mentioning environmental issues during the Monday afternoon meeting at Clarence House, it seems that President Trump will not be able to avoid the subject of the environment during his stay in the United Kingdom.
Outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to address climate change with the US President, Downing Street told BBC News on Monday.
UK climate scientists have asked the UK prime minister to "vigorously challenge" the president over his "reckless approach to climate change" during his visit.
Experts also said that honoring Trump during a state visit was "inconsistent" with the UK's global leadership on climate change.
In contrast to recent US action on climate change, the UK Parliament declared the urgency of climate change last month. The country also plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050.
Despite the differences between the two countries, the state visit will still celebrate Trump and the US by extension. While the United Kingdom is negotiating a divorce from the European Union, British officials are eager to show that their "special relationship" with the United States is as strong as ever.
However, some well – known British personalities refused to meet with the US president, including opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, who said Prime Minister May should not roll out the red carpet for a visit. State in the honor of a president who, among others, "supports the denial of climate change".
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, with whom Trump has been negotiating for years, has also criticized the state visit and claimed that Trump was considered a figurehead of the far-right movement in a week's article. -end.
Protesters are also expected to take to the streets of London during the president's visit.
James Rainey and Rachel Elbaum contributed.
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