Wedding of Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton is likely to generate more than 10 times as much greenhouse gases the Buckingham Palace emits in a whole year, a carbon footprint analysis has predicted.
The mega event, which will be held on Friday and joined by hundreds of hi-profile celebrities and guests, is expected to generate 6,765 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) -- 12 times the annual emissions from the London palace or 1,230 times the annual emissions of the average UK household.
further 3,957 tonnes of CO2e will be generated by the 400,000 people travelling on the tube and a further 200,000 arriving on rail to watch the event in central London.
The analysts at Achilles Information Limited, who are licensed to use CEMARS in the UK, did not calculate the carbon footprint of the ceremony itself and said it was just a "fun exercise" to highlight how carbon can be cut down.
Already the couple have done a few small things to limit their footprint. Kate's ring is reported to be made from Welsh gold rather than minerals from an exploitative mine. Her dress could also be ethical if she chooses vegan silk and organic Fairtrade cotton, although the most low carbon option of wearing a second hand dress or reworking something vintage is unlikely.
However, Prince William chose to take her abroad to Jordan rather than to have a stay at home honeymoon and he did propose in a long haul destination in Kenya. The Prince's household, Clarence House and St James's Palace, offset their carbon footprint every year and a spokesman suggested the royal wedding would also be offset.
"Clarence House and St James Palace always strive to minimise their carbon emissions and make any event as environmentally friendly as possible," said a spokesman. "The royal wedding is no exception,
The mega event, which will be held on Friday and joined by hundreds of hi-profile celebrities and guests, is expected to generate 6,765 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) -- 12 times the annual emissions from the London palace or 1,230 times the annual emissions of the average UK household.
further 3,957 tonnes of CO2e will be generated by the 400,000 people travelling on the tube and a further 200,000 arriving on rail to watch the event in central London.
The analysts at Achilles Information Limited, who are licensed to use CEMARS in the UK, did not calculate the carbon footprint of the ceremony itself and said it was just a "fun exercise" to highlight how carbon can be cut down.
Already the couple have done a few small things to limit their footprint. Kate's ring is reported to be made from Welsh gold rather than minerals from an exploitative mine. Her dress could also be ethical if she chooses vegan silk and organic Fairtrade cotton, although the most low carbon option of wearing a second hand dress or reworking something vintage is unlikely.
However, Prince William chose to take her abroad to Jordan rather than to have a stay at home honeymoon and he did propose in a long haul destination in Kenya. The Prince's household, Clarence House and St James's Palace, offset their carbon footprint every year and a spokesman suggested the royal wedding would also be offset.
"Clarence House and St James Palace always strive to minimise their carbon emissions and make any event as environmentally friendly as possible," said a spokesman. "The royal wedding is no exception,
