The King of Sweden Want You to Give up Bathing to Save The Environment

The king of Sweden wants to ban all bath-tubs in an effort to save water.  King Carl XVI Gustaf, who in recent years has put past scandals relating to his reputation as a lothario behind him to become better known as a dedicated environmentalist, has given a frank interview to describe his determination to turn the royal palace in Stockholm green. He also suggested that having given up taking baths himself his people should follow where he has led. “We should ban all baths, imagine that,” he said when asked about his suggestions for everyday energy saving. [2] As mentioned in the Daily Mail, the 69-year-old “green king” told Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet: “It hit me how much water and energy it used.”  “I thought ‘I can’t believe I’m having to do this’. I felt quite ashamed.” [1] Hence the king’s conclusion: “All bathtubs should be banned. Just imagine it!” While he conceded that his ban-the-tubs suggestion was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the king did say that such small details could have a big payoff when it comes to protecting the environment.  [5] “There’s truth in it though. It’s the small details that have an enormous effect,” he said, according to The Local. [10] In stark contrast to his previous reputation as a “petrolhead,” the Swedish king now drives an “eco-friendly” hybrid car. In addition, his residence has also been made greener with environmentally friendly heating and low-energy light bulbs.  The Daily Mail adds: “King Carl Gustaf attended the first UN environmental conference in Stockholm and 1972 and is due to attend UN climate change talks in Paris in just over a week.  “He said: ‘We have to think that we will do our best. And I think there is a general feeling that we’re going to achieve it.’” [1] [3] This is without a doubt the biggest issue now,” he said. “I don’t have any definitive solutions, but I talk about this more or less daily during my travels. It’s an opportunity and a duty I have.” [3] Janos Pasztor, the U.N. assistant secretary-general for climate change, said 171 countries that collectively account for more than 90 percent of emissions — including top polluters like China, the United States and India — have submitted national climate plans with targets. [7]