Sir David Attenborough calls on the scientific brains of the world to gather and find a way of hitting global warming on the head and stopping it in its tracks. The world-famous English naturalist and broadcaster believes eminent scientists globally should be challenged to make energy from renewable sources at affordable prices within the next decade.
In an exclusive interview with Dermot Murnaghan, a Sky presenter, ahead of COP21 (2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference), which will be held in Paris from November 30 to December 11, Sir David said global warming could be brought to a halt with just one major scientific breakthrough.
Sir David Frederick Attenborough was born in 1926 in Isleworth, London. He spent his childhood collecting fossils, stones and other natural specimens. In 1945, he won a scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge, where he studied geology and zoology and obtained a degree in natural sciences. (Image: www.facebook.com)
A universal plan with the world’s best brains
Sir David said:
“What we need is a universal plan where the scientific brains of the world get together and work out a road map to solve where the difficulties are – and to do it within the next 10 years.”
“If you can put a man on the moon in 10 years, we can surely do that – and if we did that, the source of global warming would disappear.”
Despite what he describes as overwhelming and compelling evidence that climate change is here, governments across the world are not doing enough to address the problem, Sir David believes.
He said to Mr. Murnaghan:
“Certainly, it’s going to be hugely difficult to get an agreement – but if we don’t we are in for disaster.”
Sir David’s interview can be viewed at 10am today (Sunday, 29 November) on Sky channel 501, Freesat channel 202, Freeview channel 132, and Virgin Media channel 602.
BBC to celebrate Sir David’s 90th birthday
The BBC has commissioned two natural-history programmes featuring Sir David, including a one-off special to celebrate his 90th birthday.
The programme – Inspiring Attenborough: Sir David at 90 – will cover his broadcasting career of probably the best-known natural-history broadcaster in the world. Kirsty Young, the presenter of Desert Island Discs who interviewed Sir David at the Radio Times Festival’s gala opening event earlier this year, will ask him questions about his life’s work.
The other programme, also a one-off special, will be called ‘Light on Earth’, and will examine the phenomenon of bioluminescence (the biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as deep-sea fish and glow-worms).
Video – Sir David and President Obama, interview
President Obama and Sir David sit to discuss and contemplate the natural world at the White House.