'I am still not used to this': Greta Thunberg meets Prince Charles after he vows to do 'utmost' for sustainability

The Prince of Wales met teenage activist Greta Thunberg after telling the World Economic Forum "we simply cannot waste any more time" on fight to save the planet.

Prince Charles, who is known for taking a keen interest in environmental issues, was pictured with the teenage campaigner after giving his speech in Davos.

During their brief meeting in Switzerland, Greta seemed slightly overwhelmed and could be heard saying "I am still not used to this" while the lights of photographers flashed.

Greta and Prince Charles had a brief discussion. Credit: PA

The royal tried to put her at ease by responding: "Very true. It's taken me years to get used to this."

Charles is due to launch an ambitious project to help financial markets become more sustainable.

He will later travel to the Middle East for his first official tour of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

He also highlighted his Sustainable Markets Council, a project he hopes will bring together leading individuals from the public and private sectors, charitable organisations and investors to identify ways to rapidly de-carbonise the global economy and make the transition to sustainable markets.

In a speech in the Swiss resort on Wednesday, he said that being socially and environmentally responsible should be the cheapest option available to all.

"We cannot expect consumers to make sustainable choices if these choices are not clearly laid before them," he said.

"As consumers increasingly demand sustainable products, they deserve to be told more about product lifecycles, supply chains and production methods.

"For a transition to take place, being socially and environmentally conscious cannot only be for those who can afford it.

"If all the true costs are taken into account, being socially and environmentally responsible should be the least expensive option because it leaves the smallest footprint behind."

Charles has vowed to use his platform to get the message out.

Prince Charles focused on sustainability. Credit: AP

"With 2020 being seen as the 'super year', kick-starting a decade of action for people and planet, I intend to do my utmost to ensure that the message of urgency, systemic change, collaboration and integration is heard," he said.

"For my part, I have made sustainable markets my priority for 2020 and actually beyond - however long it takes.

"I have instructed my teams and my organisations similarly to align with this effort and I expect them to contribute.

"And with the stakes this high I would challenge you all to do the same."

The ministerial jet Voyager is believed to be undergoing scheduled maintenance and the prince will be travelling to Switzerland and the Holy Land on a chartered plane.

World leaders and leading business figures have faced criticism in the past for flying to Davos by private jet.

Scott Furssedonn-Wood, Charles's deputy private secretary, has said: "We always look at a range of options.

"We take a number of factors into account when we decide how to travel, we weigh up things like cost, of course, with environmental impact, as you'd expect, but also efficiency of time, size of delegation and, crucially, safety and security."

He highlighted a number of trips, including the prince's official visits to Japan and India, when he flew by commercial airlines, but for this tour, he said, scheduled flights did not satisfy all of their considerations.

Charles made the two-hour car journey from the airport to Davos by electric vehicle, rather than helicopter, a Clarence House spokesman said.