Stars to appear together for first time at festival
SIR David Attenborough and teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg are to come together for the first time to discuss the climate emergency together at an event in Bristol.
The TV naturalist and the Swedish campaigner have never appeared on the same platform before, but will come together for a “detailed conversation” about the environmental crisis.
The event is take place as part of Bristol’s Wildscreen Festival, which showcases the best wildlife documentary and film-making in the world.
Bristol is the global centre of the wildlife and nature film-making industry, and the Wildscreen Festival usually attracts thousands of people to the city to watch the latest films and listen to debates and discussions.
But this year, because of the coronavirus restrictions, the festival has gone virtual, with organisers continuing to stage screenings, debates and discussions, but virtually.
What that does mean is ticket capacity for the events is unlimited, with everyone accessing virtually.
Seventeen-year-old Thunberg did make the trip to Bristol earlier this year, when she took part in a 20,000-strong School Strike for Climate march through the streets of Bristol city centre in February.
That was the last major school strike action before the coronavirus pandemic, and organisers of the protests in Bristol recently decided not to resume them to continue to limit the spread of the virus.
Many of the programmes made by 94-year-old Sir David were produced by teams at the BBC’s Natural History Unit in Bristol, and the presenter is a patron of the Wildscreen Festival itself.
“Never has communicating the threats facing our natural world and the bold solutions required to protect and restore it been so vital,” said Sir David.
“Wildscreen, with its convening power is uniquely placed to support and challenge those who can tell the stories the world needs to hear and see,” he added.
Greta Thunberg said that it was by watching natural history films that introduced her to the climate emergency.
“Films and movies have the power to open our eyes,” she said.
Alastair Fothergill, the co-director of David Attenborough, a Life on our Planet, said it would be a “unique chance” to see the two of them together discussing the climate emergency.
“This is the very first time that Sir David and Greta have had the chance for a detailed conversation and it certainly does not disappoint,” he said.
“This is a unique chance to hear two of the most influential figures of our time honestly discussing their opinions of where we are now and where we need to be,” he added.
“David and Greta will also discuss the significance of Wildscreen as a festival,” he said.
The festival begins next Monday, October 19, and runs all week until October 23.