CBS on Tuesday sympathized with Britain’s Prince Harry after he was exposed for hypocritically taking private planes as he lectures the rest of the world about climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions. NBC also parroted his talking points on justifying such contradictions.
CBS This Morning co-host Vladimir Duthiers began by mildly explaining, that Harry is facing “a little bit of criticism recently for traveling on private planes while at the same time voicing concerns about the environment.”
But this is apparently okay because of carbon offsets. The host explained how the Prince excused his actions: “He did say that what he's trying to do is offset the CO2 that he consumes. So, part of the discussion was about offsetting CO2, and he says the reasons he may fly on a private jet is for security reasons.”
Good enough, the hosts gushed. Duthiers sympathized, “At least he understands the criticism that people have.” Co-host Tony Dokoupil agreed, “Absolutely. He's addressing it.” Guest co-host Maria Elena Salinas fretted, “He's under so much scrutiny.”
Only Dokoupil offered a note of discontent. Saying that offsets don’t go far enough, he lobbied for “clean planes”:
But a lot of the people say it's a work-around. Bigger structural changes need to happen like clean planes before this can happen.
Over on NBC’s Today, Savannah Guthrie promoted Harry’s efforts to reduce “environmental impact of global tourism.”
Britain's Prince Harry is defending his use of private jets with his wife Meghan Markle and their infant son. Harry was in Amsterdam to launch a new partnership with leading travel companies. Their goals include reducing the environmental impact of global tourism.
Minimizing the Prince’s gaffe, she repeated, “Prince Harry traveled to Amsterdam on a commercial flight. He said when he flies by private jet, it's to keep his family safe.”
Last week, CBS promoted a teenage “climate activist” as the “voice of the planet.” NBC on August 29 cheered Greta Thunberg as she called for people to stop flying on planes: “Go, Greta, go!”
Transcripts can be found below. Click "expand" to read more.
CBS This Morning
9/3/19
7:50VLADIMIR DUTHIERS: Prince Harry taking a little bit of criticism recently for traveling on private planes while at the same time voicing concerns about the environment. Earlier today in Amsterdam, the Duke of Sussex announced an initiative aimed at helping travelers cut their carbon emissions and addressed his own controversy saying sometimes he needs to fly private. He did say that what he's trying to do is offset the CO2 that he consumes. So, part of the discussion was about offsetting CO2, and he says the reasons he may fly on a private jet is for security reasons. Take a listen to this.
PRINCE HARRY: I came here by commercial. I spend 99 percent of my life traveling the world by commercial. Occasionally, there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to — to ensure that my family are safe.
DUTHIERS: So he's got this new initiative. It's called being a travelist. It's a culmination of two years of research. It will help figure out the solution.
TONY DOKOUPIL: So, the effort is to try to combat global warming by minimizing the effects of air travel. But a lot of the people say it's a work-around. Bigger structural changes need to happen like clean planes before this can happen.
DUTHIERS: At least he understands the criticism that people have.
DOKOUPIL: Absolutely. He's addressing it.
MARIA ELENA SALINAS: He's under so much scrutiny.
DUTHIERS: He really is.
Today
9/3/19
8:04SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Britain's Prince Harry is defending his use of private jets with his wife Meghan Markle and their infant son. Harry was in Amsterdam to launch a new partnership with leading travel companies. Their goals include reducing the environmental impacts of global tourism. Harry answered his critics who said his own travel choices are bad for the planet.
PRINCE HARRY: We can all do better. And while no one is perfect, but e all have a responsibility with our individual impact. The question is what we can do to balance it out.
GUTHRIE: Prince Harry traveled to Amsterdam on a commercial flight. He said when he flies by private jet, it's to keep his family safe.
