Chris Packham has criticised world leaders for showing “incredible stupidity” in ignoring Sir David Attenborough’s warnings to tackle the climate crisis. The 64-year-old environmentalist and documentarian, who followed in Sir David’s footsteps, shared that Sir David felt leaders forgot the concerns he raised at Glasgow’s Cop26 in 2021.
During the climate summit, Sir David made an impassioned speech in which he warned an audience of 120 world leaders that they must “turn tragedy to triumph” and reverse rising carbon levels in the atmosphere. Speaking to the Big Issue magazine, Packham said Sir David felt everyone “woke up the following morning and forgot”.
“There’s a real sense of sadness and injustice,” Packham said. “Because when the world’s leading science communicator is given a platform like that and they tell the truth, it shows incredible stupidity and ignorance for world leaders to ignore him. It is a total failure in their duty.”
Packham went on to describe how Sir David became more outspoken on climate change after reaching a “tipping point”. He said: “It was probably a very personal thing, we all have those moments in our lives where all of a sudden we wake up and we’ve got to change. Like myself, he’s compelled to tell the truth. So he doesn’t mince his words. He speaks very forthrightly about issues.”
Packham praised the environmentalist for his influence in engaging the public to love “all life on earth”. He added: “No person in the entire history of our species has made such a significant contribution to engaging people and developing a love for all life on earth as David Attenborough. I have such a huge respect for him. Obviously. But I never expected it to be reciprocated. Why should it be? I’m the pupil, he’s the mentor.”
Read Chris Packham’s full reflection on Sir David Attenborough’s legacy, as the environmentalist reaches 100, in this week’s Big Issue, on sale now.
