The problems that the world will face in the next five to ten years, according to renowned broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough, are greater than the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. As People’s Advocate for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will take place in November in Glasgow, Attenborough has been tasked with exhorting world leaders to put climate action at the top of their agenda over the next six months.
Attenborough, the world’s most influential wildlife broadcaster, said that there could not be a more important moment to have international agreements on major issues. COP26 is being dubbed as the most important climate summit since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 to keep the rise of the global temperature below 2 degree Celsius.
“The epidemic has shown us how crucial it is to find agreement among nations if we are to solve such worldwide problems,” said Attenborough.
“But the problems that await us within the next 5-10 years are even greater. It is crucial that these meetings in Glasgow, COP26, have success, and that at last the nations will come together to solve the crippling problems that the world now faces,” he added.
Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, thanked the 95-year-old conservationist for agreeing to be the COP26 People’s Advocate for the UK’s UN climate change presidency. According to Johnson, Attenborough’s passion and knowledge have inspired millions of people around the world to take action 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. I am hugely grateful to Sir David for agreeing to be our People’s Advocate,” he said.
The COP26 will be presided over by Alok Sharma, an Indian-origin Cabinet minister in the British government. Climate change, according to Sharma, is humanity’s greatest threat, and the “stakes for our planet could not be higher.” The Conservative leader stressed the importance of effective climate action, saying that the next decade will be make-or-break for reducing global emissions sufficiently to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
“That is why I am delighted to be working with Sir David, a hero for our country and our planet, to inspire action ahead of COP26,” he added.
