In his role as People’s Advocate, Sir David Attenborough addressed world leaders at COP26 in Glasgow, urging them to act decisively to fight climate change and protect the planet and the natural world.
“Is this how our story is due to end?” Attenborough said. “A tale of the smartest species doomed by that all too human characteristic of failing to see the bigger picture in pursuit of short term goals.”
Speakinge before an international audience of policymakers, diplomats and activists at the World Leaders Summit on Monday, Attenborough opened the conference with a call to action. In his speech, he highlighted the inherent unfairness of the climate crisis, both on the young people of the world as well as the poorest.
“This story is one of inequality as well as instability. Today, those who have done the least to cause this are being hardest hit,” Attenborough said. “Ultimately all of us will feel the impacts, some of which are now unavoidable.”
At the same time, he delivered a message of hope, urging world leaders and people around the globe to work together to find solutions an
“If working apart we’re a force powerful enough to destabilize our planet, surely, working together, we are powerful enough to save it,” Attenborough said.
Attenborough was selected in May by the UK Government as People’s Advocate in recognition of his decades of work as broadcaster and natural historian. He’s hosted numerous television specials and documentaries about the natural world and has been a staunch advocate for conservation.
“Sir David Attenborough has already inspired millions of people in the UK and around the world with his passion and knowledge to act on climate change and protect the planet for future generations. There is no better person to build momentum for further change as we approach the COP26 climate summit in November,” said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a statement at the time.
In his speech in Glasgow, he said also that he hoped that in part because of efforts stemming from COP26, this generation would start to see the beginning of the recovery of the natural world.
However, he acknowledged also that there was still much work to be done by all nations of the world.
“No nation has yet completed its development because no advanced nation is yet sustainable,” Attenborough said. “All have a journey still to complete.”
The live streams of the COP26 conference can be found here and here.
Additional images, b-roll and press material can be found here.
