Covid- 19 pandemic is environment threat, warns Attenborough
SIR DAVID Attenborough has warned the global Covid- 19 pandemic is a threat to the environment as politicians instead deal with the health and economic crisis ahead of climate change.
The veteran naturalist and broadcaster also heaped praise on teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg, saying she had given the world “hope” by energising young people to fight for the environment. The 94- yearold, who has recently launched his new film A Life On Our Planet, said several international climate conferences, such as COP26, had been “put off” because of Covid19 and he feared people would have other priorities.
“I am worried that people will take their eyes off the environmental issue because of the immediate problems they have on Covid- 19,” he said.
“It’s put off a series of conferences in which all the nations get together and talk.”
Sir David appeared with 17- year- old Swede Thunberg at Wildscreen, a virtual wildlife film festival being held in Bristol. Speaking from his home in London, he heaped praise on the teenager and said her campaigning had made other young people demand action to stop climate change.
“If there is any sign of hope, and there is to be truthful compared to what there was 25 years ago, it’s because of what you’ve done and what you’ve done for young people,” he said.
“Young people around the world are really, really going for it now because of you. The world owes you a lot and I hope you are not paying too high a price for it, and it looks from what you are saying that you are managing to survive alright.”
He said that his television work and Thunberg’s campaigning had helped to shape public opinion and demand action.
“We have to understand that if we are going to do something it is going to cost taxes and we are going to have to give up as well as take,” he said.
“In the end it has to be a political decision to save the world. There has to be give and take between nations and the electorate. If you’re faced with a crisis of the proportion of the epidemic they’re facing, it’s difficult to lift your eyes from immediate problems.”