Sir David Attenborough has called on world leaders to act over climate change during an inspiring speech at a vital United Nations conference in Poland.

“Right now, we’re facing a man-made disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years: climate change,” he said.

“If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.”

Attenborough is taking the People’s Seat at the conference and is acting as a link between the public and policy-makers.

“The world’s people have spoken. Their message is clear: time is running out,” he said.

“They want you the decision makers to act now. They’re behind you, along with civil society represented here today – supporting you in making tough decisions but also willing to make sacrifices in their daily life To help make change happen.”

The meeting is thought to be the most important climate-related event since the 2015 Paris agreement.

“The United Nations is launching the Act Now bot – helping people to discover simple everyday actions that they can make because they recognise that they too must play their part,” Attenborough continued.

“The people have spoken. Leaders of the world, you must lead the continuation of our civilizations, and the natural world upon which we depend is in your hands.”

What do you think of Attenborough’s speech? Tell us in the comment section below!

Oli Gross

Oli’s career and personal ethical values both help shape his reporting of the diverse world of veganism. His background is in local newspaper and magazine journalism, and his work has included reporting court cases, celebrity interviews, business analysis, food and drink features and government legislation.

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