You know things are getting serious when Prince Charles takes a breather from his polo matches and his romantic getaways with Camilla to speak out on climate change. In the keynote speech at a meeting in Rio de Janeiro. the Prince gave a passionate speech, saying that “the best projections tell us that we have less than 100 months to alter our behavior before we risk catastrophic climate change and the unimaginable horrors that this would bring.”

The Prince had plenty to say to the business people who’d gathered to discuss the economy and the environment, adding that “we are facing a series of challenges so immense that we can, perhaps, be forgiven for feeling they are all too forbidding to confront.” He was adamant that despite their economic concerns, action needed to be immediate. “Any difficulties which the world faces today,” he said, ” will be as nothing compared to the full effects which global warming will have on the world-wide economy.”

In the coming months Prince Charles will meet with many foreign leaders, including United States President Barack Obama, to discuss the challenges ahead in the world’s fight against climate change. You can watch the video of Prince Charles’ speech in Brazil here.