David Attenborough’s plea for future – ‘what happens next is up to us’

David Attenborough issued a heartfelt plea encouraging people to “make the right choices” to ensure “a rich, thriving, sustainable future” here on Earth.

It’s no secret we’re living in unprecedented times, with record-breaking heatwaves battering the planet and bringing about extreme weather changes and far-reaching consequences for all species. Mike Kendon, Met Office climate information scientist, surmised: “What we used to think of as extreme, we increasingly consider as normal.”

Similarly, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: “The State of the Global Climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red.

“Humanity has just endured the eleven hottest years on record. When history repeats itself eleven times, it is no longer a coincidence. It is a call to act.”

These words of warning call back to comments Sir David Attenborough made in 2020.

The acclaimed natural historian and broadcaster, with arguably one of the most instantly recognisable voices in the country, is known for his integral parts in multiple documentary series, including The Life Collection, Natural World, Wildlife on One, the Planet Earth franchise, The Blue Planet, Frozen Planet and much more.

In the final clip posted to his official Instagram account, the beloved presenter and environmentalist, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, urged people to take action to secure the safety of the planet.

He said: “When I began my career, I had no idea that I would be chronicling a story of change on such a planetary scale – one with such profound implications for all life on Earth.

“We’ve brought ourselves to the very brink of a disaster the likes of which we have never seen before.

“I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes. But this is not my story, it’s ours – the story of everyone alive now, and it doesn’t stop here.”

Attenborough continued: “We’re all living through these extraordinary times, and the final chapter is ours to write.

“It might feel like a moment of hopelessness, but actually it can be our turning point. We know what we need to do.

“By making the right choices in the next 10 years, we can begin to rewild the world and create a rich, thriving, sustainable future for ourselves on Earth.”

He added: “We can yet become the heroes of our own story. We have it in our power. Disaster or triumph, what happens next is up to us.”

In the caption accompanying the poignant clip, the team behind the account penned: “Saving our planet is a communications challenge. If enough people want change and take action, a sustainable future is within our grasp.

“We wanted to share our view on how this might be achieved and have been encouraged by the huge amount of ideas and passion shared with us here.

“This might be a wrap for this account – we won’t be posting anything else, though the account will stay open for you to watch David’s messages – but we hope it’s a springboard for many others to build on and share the ways we might create a sustainable future.”