Interview
David Attenborough talks about his new Netflix film
- Sir David Attenborough (93) has returned to television with A Life on Our Planet to shift focus from "wonder" to an urgent message regarding humanity's damaging environmental impact and necessary behavioral adaptations.
- Attenborough rejects retirement because his continued presence allows him to investigate "interesting places" and plants; he states he has not seen enough of the natural world he lives in (West London).
- The film opens at Chernobyl, a site of a 1986 man-made nuclear disaster where nature has thrived due to human absence; Attenborough uses this to illustrate a "long protracted bang" of climate change and ecological collapse unfolding over the last 100 to 200 years.
- He clarifies that while Chernobyl was a singular catastrophic event, the current environmental crisis is a prolonged disaster with an unknown end date, contrasting it with the suddenness of the nuclear explosion.
- Attenborough acknowledges criticism from environmentalists like George Monbiot regarding his historical focus on "wonder" rather than immediate crisis; he argues that creating an appreciation for nature's value is a prerequisite for motivating public concern and political action.
- He identifies the first personal sign of impending ecological danger as witnessing bleached coral reefs in the late 1950s and 1960s, realizing the world's richest ecosystems were being wiped out.
- Regarding his tone, Attenborough asserts that people cannot care for or act upon issues they do not know or have not seen; therefore, his work must first establish the natural world's worth before detailing its destruction.
- On the question of convincing skeptical leaders like President Trump, Attenborough admits he has no expectation of changing Trump's mind due to his firm, long-standing views and resistance to rational argument.
- Consequently, Attenborough has chosen to target "voters" in democracies rather than political figures, believing their minds remain open to logical thought regarding environmental policy.
- He observes a radical shift in public opinion over the last decade, where natural history programming has moved from being considered mere entertainment to a globally recognized source of information.
- Despite increased awareness, Attenborough notes that behavioral change is slow; very few viewers adopt extreme measures like veganism, stopping flying, or divesting from fossil fuels immediately.
- Personally, Attenborough has not eaten red meat for several years, citing biological logic regarding his age and digestion rather than moral objection.
- He reduces his flying significantly, reserving air travel only for work deemed "worthwhile" rather than for pleasure or exploration.
- Regarding recent protest movements (e.g., Extinction Rebellion, school strikers), Attenborough endorses their goals but warns of the risks of law-breaking, emphasizing the necessity of following laws to ensure future compliance once legislation changes.
- He praises Greta Thunberg for having "marvels and wonders" done, forcing world leaders to pause and consider environmental issues seriously.
- Attenborough remains active, confirming he is still filming after a newspaper reporter recently visited his home to interview him.