By A role model, an icon, a Champion of the Earth
Sir David Attenborough has been named a Champion of the Earth by the UN’s Environment.
The 95-year-old’s commitment to the natural world and climate change of been recognised with the prestigious award.
Following his acceptance of the award, Sir David said we all must take immediate action to protect nature and our planet.
He later added that our environmental success stories should serve as hope and motivation to continue the movement of change.
“Fifty years ago, whales were on the very edge of extinction worldwide. Then people got together and now there are more whales in the sea than any living human being has ever seen”, Sir David said.
“We know what the problems are and we know how to solve them. All we lack is unified action”, he added.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Anderson stated that the UN chose to award Sir David as a result of his “devotion” to broadcasting the natural world.
“If we stand a chance of averting climate and biodiversity breakdowns and cleaning up polluted ecosystems, it’s because millions of us fell in love with the planet that he captured on film and writing, in his voice”, Anderson said.
The 95-year-old started working on natural history programmes in the early 1950s, and his rise in popularity has only increased.
Sir David’s recent television shows highlight some of the worlds struggling environmental ‘disasters’, in hope more people will join the fight against climate change.
(Image: davidattenborough/ Instagram)
