International Monetary Fund / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Sir David Attenborough wants a ban on deep-sea mining.
<p>The 93-year-old conservationist spoke out <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/sir-david-attenborough-hopes-coronavirus-crisis-will-not-hinder-uk-climate-change-summit-11955590" target="_blank">in an interview with Sky News Thursday</a> in conjunction with a new report that warns of the potentially devastating consequences of extracting metals and minerals from the deep places of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans" target="_self">ocean</a>. The practice could harm <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/biodiversity" target="_self">biodiversity</a>, limit the ocean's ability to support life and even disrupt its ability to store carbon, worsening the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a>. </p>
<p>"We should not go in and trash an area of the globe about which we know hardly anything until we've done the proper research - in short we want a moratorium against action of industrialising the deep-sea," Attenborough told Sky.</p>
<div id="76e5f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="FJWZ3I1584105773"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1237983319540850688" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Please join our call – alongside Sir David Attenborough – for governments to declare a moratorium on #DeepSeaMining… https://t.co/tMmLLIess6</div> — Fauna & Flora Int. (@Fauna & Flora Int.)<a href="https://twitter.com/FaunaFloraInt/statuses/1237983319540850688">1583993198.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The <a href="https://cms.fauna-flora.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/FFI_2020_The-risks-impacts-deep-seabed-mining_Report.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> Attenborough backed was published by <a href="https://www.fauna-flora.org/" target="_blank">Flora and Fauna International</a> (FFI) Thursday, a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/conservation" target="_self">conservation</a> group of which Attenborough serves as vice president. It comes as there is growing interest in deep-sea mining, defined by FFI as mining below 200 meters (approximately 656 feet), as deposits of minerals used in batteries and mobile phones are discovered, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/12/david-attenborough-calls-for-ban-on-devastating-deep-sea-mining?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco&fbclid=IwAR17aGXn2dgIWqgKYQvM7jASuEYcjV69PoNUj5Fmr8r2YETn7T-ryH7illI" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>. The international rules governing the new practice will be decided at a meeting of the UN International Seabed Authority in July.</p><p>While the impact of mining above 200 meters is well understood, science has yet to learn much about the deep ocean, making it difficult to assess mining's impacts there. The FFI report is the <a href="https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/sir-david-attenborough-urges-halt-deep-sea-mining-plans-wake-alarming-new-scientific-report" target="_blank">first</a> to seriously consider the risks of the practice, and it drew some troubling conclusions.</p><p>Deep-sea mining could:</p><ol><li>Disturb pristine ecosystems</li><li>Create far-reaching plumes of sediment that could kill <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/marine-life" target="_self">marine life</a> far from the mining site</li><li>Kill microbes in sediments and hydrothermal vents that reduce methane and carbon</li><li>Disrupt the ocean's "Biological Pump" that distributes nutrients and sucks carbon out of the atmosphere</li><li>Expose deep-sea life to toxic metals</li><li>Worsen <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/ocean-acidification" target="_self">ocean acidification</a> through the mining of sulphide deposits on the seafloor</li></ol>
<div id="b34eb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="UW1SE51584105774"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1238052679395442695" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">📢📰Today's report from @FaunaFloraInt warns of the impacts of #DeepSeaMining on the health of the ocean, our planet'… https://t.co/mtTdyTNpZj</div> — Marine CoLABoration (@Marine CoLABoration)<a href="https://twitter.com/Marine_CoLAB/statuses/1238052679395442695">1584009735.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The risk of such impacts in a little-understood ecosystem is why Attenborough is joining FFI in calling for a ban on the practice.</p><p>"Whatever you do please do the science before you go in and destroy - because that's what it is - mining is a polite word, mining also means destruction. Destruction of an ecosystem of which we know pathetically little," he told Sky.</p><p>FFI acknowledged that deep-sea mining is sometimes portrayed as part of the solution to the climate crisis, because it is a potential source of many metals needed for lithium-ion batteries. However, Director Pippa Howard wrote that the risks associated with the practice made it necessary to search for other solutions, such as developing less-metal dependent technologies like hydrogen fuel cells or batteries from materials extracted from sea water.</p><p>"We need to shatter the myth that deep-seabed mining is the solution to the climate crisis!" Howard <a href="https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/depth-deep-seabed-mining-not-answer-climate-crisis" target="_blank">wrote</a>. "It is nonsense that this form of mining is a 'light' alternative to terrestrial mining and that all the cobalt, nickel, copper and manganese lying 'for the taking' on the bottom of the oceans are some kind of silver bullet."</p>
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Prince William Launches Multimillion Dollar Earthshot Prize for Climate Action
31 December 2019
Climate
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit the Chiatibo glacier in the Hindu Kush mountain range on Oct. 16, 2019 in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhunkwa Province, Pakistan. They spoke with a an expert about how climate change is impacting glacial landscapes. Pool / Samir Hussein / WireImage
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and second in line to the throne, announced today a multimillion-dollar prize to encourage the world's greatest problem solvers to tackle the climate crisis, as Reuters reported.
The newly announced Earthshot Prize, which bills itself as "a decade of action to repair the Earth," has been planned for the last year, according to a statement from Kensington Palace. The prize will be given to five winners a year for the next 10 years starting in 2021 with the goal of funding 50 creative and achievable solutions to the world's greatest threat by 2030, as CNN reported.
<p>The name Earthshot is a play on the term moonshot, which is shorthand for labelling ambitious and groundbreaking goals. </p><p>"A set of unique challenges, rooted in <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/science/">science</a>, will aim to generate new ways of thinking, as well as new technologies, systems, policies and solutions," says the <a href="https://earthshotprize.org/" target="_blank">Earthshot Prize</a> website. "Just as the moonshot that John F. Kennedy proposed in the 1960s catalyzed new technology such as the MRI scanner and satellite dishes, we want our Earthshot challenges to create a new wave of ambition and innovation around finding ways to help save the planet."</p>
<p>The royal family is no stranger to the climate crisis. For years, William's father Prince Charles has spoken out about <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/conservation">conservation</a> and the devastation that the climate crisis brings. William's younger brother, Harry, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/prince-harry-african-parks-2520495833.html" target="_self">became president of the conservation group African Parks</a> in 2017. Earlier this year, Harry and his wife dedicated their official Instagram account to organizations and people tackling the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-crisis" target="_blank">climate crisis</a>, as <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-environment-july-2639073995.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1">EcoWatch</a> reported.</p><p>Now, 37-year-old Prince William is dedicating millions to the largest crisis the world faces. </p><p>"We face a stark choice: Either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve," Prince William said in a statement, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/31/uk/prince-william-earthshot-prize-environment-gbr-scli-intl/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported. "The next ten years presents us with one of our greatest tests — a decade of change to repair the Earth." </p>
<p>The prize aims to usher in a spirit of optimism and possibility to replace the current pessimism associated with the climate crisis, according to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2019/12/31/prince-william-launches-earthshot-prize-prestigious-environmental/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a>. It aims to generate new technologies, policies and solutions for issues of climate and energy, nature and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/biodiversity">biodiversity</a>, oceans, air pollution and fresh water, according to <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-royals-earthshot/uks-prince-william-launches-prize-to-solve-earths-top-environmental-challenges-idUKKBN1YZ0V8" target="_blank">Reuters</a>.</p><p>The prize will lay out a set of five unique challenges rooted in science. The challenges will be announced in coming months with an annual award ceremony in different cities around the world from 2021 to 2030, as <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2019/12/31/prince-william-launches-earthshot-prize-prestigious-environmental/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a> reported. </p><p>There are no details yet about just how much the prizes will be or who is funding it, just a statement saying that the project is supported by a global coalition of philanthropists and organizations, as <a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-royals-earthshot/uks-prince-william-launches-prize-to-solve-earths-top-environmental-challenges-idUKKBN1YZ0V8" target="_blank">Reuters</a> reported.</p>
<p>To help with the reveal of the Earthshot Prize, Prince William enlisted the help of acclaimed conservationist Sir David Attenborough to voice a short movie accompanying the announcement. </p><p>As <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2019/12/31/prince-william-launches-earthshot-prize-prestigious-environmental/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a> reported, in the short film, Attenborough says, "The spirit of the moonshot can guide us today as we confront the serious challenges we face on Earth. This year Prince William and a global alliance launch the most prestigious Environment Prize in history. The Earthshot Prize. A global prize designed to motivate and inspire a new generation of thinkers, leaders and dreamers to think differently. Visionaries rewarded over the next decade for responding to the great challenges of our time."</p>
<p>In addition to a significant financial reward, winners will receive public recognition for their work that will hopefully inspire leaders in business and government to collaborate and scale the projects up, according to <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2019/12/31/prince-william-launches-earthshot-prize-prestigious-environmental/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a>.</p><p>"In just ten years we can go from fear to hope, from disaster to discovery and from inertia to inspiration. The Earthshot Prize challenges us all to make this the decade that we build a future to be proud of," said Colin Butfield, executive director of the World Wide Fund for Nature, as <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2019/12/31/prince-william-launches-earthshot-prize-prestigious-environmental/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a> reported.</p>
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EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde (L) and broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough take part in a discussion on nature and the economy in Washington, DC, April 11. MANDEL NGAN / AFP / Getty Images
Beloved nature broadcaster Sir David Attenborough narrated a BBC documentary on climate change Thursday that Guardian reviewer Rebecca Nicholson said aimed to encourage action around climate the way that Attenborough's Blue Planet II galvanized the world against single-use plastic.
<p>The hour-long program, called <em>Climate Change—The Facts</em>, marked Attenborough's strongest warning to date on the dangers posed by global warming, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-47976184" target="_blank">BBC News reported</a>.</p><p>"In the 20 years since I first started talking about the impact of climate change on our world, conditions have changed far faster than I ever imagined," Attenborough said in the film. "It may sound frightening, but the scientific evidence is that if we have not taken dramatic action within the next decade, we could face irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies."</p>
<div id="b5832" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="UNCQ6C1576663582"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1118884506927345665" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">There is still time to hit the emergency brakes on the damage we are doing to our planet. There is still hope. 💚
C… https://t.co/Ori051VOSv</div> — BBC One (@BBC One)<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCOne/statuses/1118884506927345665">1555597828.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br>The program looked at the impacts of climate change, showing footage of people fleeing <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildfires" target="_self">wildfires</a> in the U.S. and highlighting how <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sea-level-rise" target="_self">sea level rise</a> is forcing the residents of Isle de Jean Charles in Louisiana to leave their homes. It also spoke to scientists studying ice melt in <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/greenland" target="_self">Greenland</a> and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/antarctica" target="_self">Antarctica</a>.<br></p><p>"In the last year we've had a global assessment of ice losses from Antarctica and Greenland and they tell us that things are worse than we'd expected," University of Leeds Prof. Andrew Shepherd said.</p><p>The documentary was also upfront about the role of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/fossil-fuels" target="_self">fossil fuel</a> industry, Nicholson wrote, explaining that it was the most profitable business in human history and that its companies consulted with the same people who advised the tobacco industry in order to develop PR campaigns that spread doubt and slow down action.</p><p>The program also proposed solutions, such as <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/" target="_self">renewable energy</a>, carbon capture technologies and political action.</p><p>The documentary featured 16-year-old Swedish activist <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/greta-thunberg" target="_self">Greta Thunberg</a>, whose one-person school strikes for climate action sparked a global youth movement, <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/david-attenborough-climate-change-society-collapse-1399984" target="_blank">Newsweek reported</a>.</p><p>"My future and everyone else's future is at risk and nothing is being done, no one is doing anything, so then I have to do something," Thunberg said.</p><p>The program aired in the UK as the fourth day of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/extinction-rebellion" target="_self">Extinction Rebellion</a> protests <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/extinction-rebellion-arrests-2634767072.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1" target="_self">blocked busy streets</a> in central London. The combination of the headlines generated by the protesters, who want the UK government to reach net-zero emissions by 2025, and the Attenborough program, worked to increase media coverage of climate change in the UK, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/19/extinction-rebellion-and-attenborough-put-climate-in-spotlight" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>.</p>
<div id="ce474" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="O6VRDW1576663582"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1118781914544996353" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Tonight at 9pm on @BBCOne Sir David presents the stark reality of the #ClimateCatastrophe . It’s good timing as hop… https://t.co/gGssBlQmRZ</div> — Chris Packham (@Chris Packham)<a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisGPackham/statuses/1118781914544996353">1555573369.0</a></blockquote></div><p>BBC Presenter and environmentalist Chris Packham said the BBC was giving more attention to the environmental crisis.<br></p><p>"They [the BBC] are certainly making sure they are moving away from criticism levelled at them in the last few years of only showing a rose-tinted view of the natural world," Packham said.</p><p>In recent years, two complaints against the network's Radio 4 Today program have been upheld due to interviews with <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-denier" target="_self">climate denier</a> Nigel Lawson that did not adequately challenge him on the facts.</p>
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Sir David Attenborough opens Woodberry Wetlands on April 30, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. Danny Martindale / WireImage
Beloved nature broadcaster Sir David Attenborough will produce a new documentary for BBC One focused entirely on climate change, the network announced Friday.
<p>The show, to be titled <em>Climate Change—The Facts</em>, will be a 60 minute documentary that will air in the spring, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/mar/22/attenborough-to-front-climate-change-film-as-bbc-moves-from-teach-to-preach" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>. The news comes little more than a year after Attenborough helped raise the alarm about <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics" target="_self">plastic</a> pollution as part of his <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/david-attenborough-plastics-2514828090.html">Blue Planet II BBC series</a>.</p>
<div id="97c7b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="NTXIYV1576663649"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1109213160278351872" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">"We're running out of time but there's still hope."
Sir David Attenborough will present a landmark climate change… https://t.co/GQjN6U4QgY</div> — BBC One (@BBC One)<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCOne/statuses/1109213160278351872">1553292000.0</a></blockquote></div><p>"There is a real hunger from audiences to find out more about climate change and understand the facts," BBC's Director of Content Charlotte Moore told <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47666007" target="_blank">BBC News</a>. "We have a trusted guide in Sir David Attenborough, who will be speaking to the challenging issues that it raises, and present an engaging and informative look at one of the biggest issues of our time."</p><p>The documentary will show footage of the impacts of climate change and include interviews with climate scientists and meteorologists, who will explain how global warming has already influenced <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/extreme-weather" target="_self">extreme weather</a> events like the California <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildfires" target="_self">wildfires</a> of November 2018.</p><p>The 92-year-old Attenborough, who made his first nature documentary series for TV 50 years ago, has increasingly spoken out on climate issues. He delivered the "<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/cop24-climate-2621562738.html" target="_self">People's Address</a>" at the UN climate talks in December of last year and spoke with Britain's Prince William about the issue in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/david-attenborough-and-prince-william-2626738435.html" target="_self">this January</a>.</p><p>In that interview, Prince William asked Attenborough why he had held back from speaking out on environmental issues for much of his public career.</p><p>Attenborough responded that when he started his career, he didn't think there was anyone "who thought that there was a danger that we might annihilate part of the natural world."</p><p>"Now, of course, we are only to well aware that the whole of the natural world is at our disposal, as it were," he said in the interview. "We can do things accidentally that exterminate a whole area of the natural world and the species that live within it."</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c40f4c7f0efd200912201dae0ebcbe47"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EBbQ79uA9FY?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>The climate change documentary is part of a BBC series called Our Planet Matters that kicked off with Blue Planet Live Sunday night.<br></p><p>Julian Hector, the head of BBC's Natural History Unit, which has been the force behind most of Attenborough's shows, said that climate change had changed both the tone of the unit's documentaries and the practicalities of filming.</p><p>"Not a single development goes on in the Natural History Unit where we're not talking about a conservation element or the difficulty of filming because of climate change," Hector said. "This nervousness about the state of the natural world is omnipresent."</p><p>In one example, Hector talked about filming in Kenya for the program Dynasties. Hector said in the past it was easier to predict what would happen on location, but parts of Kenya has been impacted by <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drought" target="_self">drought</a> for many years, which makes it harder for <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife" target="_self">wildlife</a> to find food.</p><p>"Climate change is increasingly the backdrop to our films, and so the causes of it are worth exploring," Hector said.</p><p>Hector said a shift in tone from wonder at the natural world to concern about its survival started with Blue Planet II. That program featured a heartbreaking segment on the fate of albatross chicks who ingest plastic.</p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2b64045f68c40bba2c9dff39a114a775"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I4QNolP7Khc?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
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Prince William and British naturalist David Attenborough attend converse during the World Economic Forum annual meeting, on January 22 in Davos, Switzerland. Fabrice Cofferini /AFP / Getty Images
Britain's Prince William interviewed famed broadcaster David Attenborough on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Switzerland.
During the sit-down, the 92-year-old naturalist advised the world leaders and business elite gathered in Davos this week that we must respect and protect the natural world, adding that the future of its survival—as well as humanity's survival—is in our hands.
<p>
"We can wreck it with ease," Attenborough said. "We can wreck it without even knowing we are doing it. And if we wreck the natural world, in the end, we wreck ourselves."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="5da89" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="HYDKCZ1576662575"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1087761706128994304" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">“If we wreck the natural world, in the end, we wreck ourselves.”
Sir David Attenborough talks to Prince William ab… https://t.co/DXoJGKUH0X</div> — Channel 4 News (@Channel 4 News)<a href="https://twitter.com/Channel4News/statuses/1087761706128994304">1548177575.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
The <em>Our Planet</em> narrator stressed that a healthy planet is essential for life itself, and yet people have never been more "out of touch" with the natural world.
</p><p>
"We have to recognize that every breath of air we take, every mouthful of food that we take comes from the natural world. And that if we damage the natural world we damage ourselves," Attenborough said to the Duke of Cambridge when asked about how young people can make a positive impact on the environment. </p><p>"We are one coherent ecosystem. It's not just a question of beauty or interest or wonder. It's the essential ingredient, the central part of human life is a healthy planet," Attenborough said.</p><p>
Prince William asked the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/conservation">conservation</a> advocate why some global leaders are "faltering" on tackling environmental challenges.
</p><p>
"Because the connection between the natural world and the urban world, the human society, since the Industrial Revolution, has been remote and widening," Attenborough said. "We didn't realize the effects of what we were doing 'out there.' But now we are seeing that almost everything we do has its echoes, its duplications and implications across the natural world."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="7ebc7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="Z70SA01576662575"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1087764502823792640" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">"Every breath of air that we take, every mouthful of food that we take comes from that the natural world. If we dam… https://t.co/pGt5iTKuzL</div> — Kensington Palace (@Kensington Palace)<a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/statuses/1087764502823792640">1548178241.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>He added that it was "difficult to overstate" the urgency of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change" target="_self">climate change</a> crisis.<br></p><p>
"We are now so numerous, so powerful, so all pervasive, the mechanisms we have for destruction are so wholesale and so frightening that we can exterminate whole ecosystems without even noticing it," Attenborough said.
</p><p>
In the documentary series <em>Blue Planet II</em>, Attenborough gave viewers an unflinching look at the harmful impact of human activity on our <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/oceans">oceans</a>.
</p><p>
"We have now to be really aware of the dangers of what we are doing. And we already know the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic</a> problems in the seas is wreaking appalling damage upon <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/marine-life">marine life</a>. The extent of which we don't yet fully know," said in his chat with the prince.
</p><p>
Also in the interview, the legendary television icon spoke about how the world has changed since he started broadcasting in the 1950s
</p><p>
"I went to West Africa for the first time and it was a wonderland," Attenborough said. "You'd just step off from the beaten track... and it seemed to me as a newcomer, unexplored and exciting and everywhere you turned you saw something new."
</p><p>
"The human population was only a third of the size of what it is today...you really did get the feeling of what it might have been like to be in the Garden of Eden," he continued.
</p><p>
Attenborough, who was honored at the World Economic Forum's Crystal Awards on Monday for his leadership in the fight against climate change, remains hopeful about the planet's future.
</p><p>
"There's a source of great optimism there, we have the knowledge, we have the power, to live in harmony with that natural world," he said, according to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46957085" target="_blank">BBC</a>.
</p><p>
Watch the full interview here:
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
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<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Prince William interviews David Attenborough – watch live</small>
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- David Attenborough: 'Population Growth Must Come to an End ... ›
- The Queen Declares War on Plastic - EcoWatch ›
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Renowned naturalist David Attenborough sat down with BBC Newsnight for a wide-ranging interview about the environment and how the planet cannot accommodate the "alarming rate" of human overpopulation.
"One of the reasons that the population has increased as fast as it has is that people like me are living longer than we did," Attenborough explained. "And so there are more and more people just because the expectancy of life has increased."
<p>
<span></span>Even now, with the world's current population of 7.6 billion, humanity uses up Earth's natural resources <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/earth-overshoot-day-2018-2589223600.html" target="_self">1.7 times faster</a> than the planet's ecosystems can regenerate, according to the <a href="https://www.footprintnetwork.org/" target="_blank">Global Footprint Network</a>. This ecological debt is poised to increase as the world population is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100, the <a href="http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html" target="_blank">United Nations projected</a>.
</p><p>
<span></span>As Attenborough noted, "In the long run, population growth has to come to an end."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="b7b51" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="UN7UGR1576663345"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1047606020699316225" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">"In the long run, population growth has to come to an end."
Sir David Attenborough on the environment, the future… https://t.co/AQjwev1PIT</div> — BBC Newsnight (@BBC Newsnight)<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/statuses/1047606020699316225">1538603713.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
The legendary English broadcaster, who spoke with the BBC on the 40th anniversary of his groundbreaking <em>Life On Earth</em> series, commented on a variety of environmental topics. He said he's eating much less meat: "We simply cannot destroy the natural forests and plains of the world in order to feed ourselves. We have to modify our diet." On the growing issue of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic</a> pollution, he said, "We should do our best to avoid the use of plastic."
</p><p>
Also in the interview, Attenborough admitted that up to five years ago he was "very, very pessimistic" about the future of the planet, but the landmark <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildfires" target="_self">Paris agreement</a> to combat <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate change</a> changed his attitude.
</p><p>
"The Paris agreement seemed at the time to be at last nations coming to their senses," he said.
</p><p>
Attenborough remains hopeful despite <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/trump" target="_self">President Donald Trump</a>'s intention to withdraw from the international accord signed by nearly 200 countries.
</p><p>
"It is true that President Trump doesn't go along with it. To what extent the United States is going to withdraw from it, we'll see," he said. "My suspicion is that people will realize that actually the United States' attitude is outdated, it doesn't apply anymore, and I think that will be overcome.
</p><p>
"There's a groundswell internationally of recognizing what we are doing to the planet and the disaster that awaits unless we do something," Attenborough said. "This is the only world we've got."</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="0d934" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GFGEUH1576663345"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1016502380198756354" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">7.5 Billion and Counting: How Many Humans Can the Earth Support? https://t.co/mmfNDdbWAl @Pop_Council @DavidSuzukiFDN</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/1016502380198756354">1531188027.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Sir David Attenborough—who showed "heartbreaking" examples of the effects of plastic pollution on marine life in his Blue Planet II series—spoke with Sky News ahead of World Oceans Day about humanity's responsibility to save our struggling seas.
"We've become aware of what we've done to the world and the responsibility we have for looking after the wild world," he revered British naturalist said.
<p style="">
During the interview, Attenborough revealed that he gave up <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water">bottled water</a> and applauds the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/uk-plastics-ban-2561478381.html">growing global movement</a> to reduce consumption of single-use plastics.
</p><p style="">
In April, the British government <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-rallies-commonwealth-to-unite-on-marine-waste#history" target="_blank">announced</a> plans to end to the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton swabs in order to protect the marine environment.
</p><p style="">
<span></span>"There are so many simple things we can do," Attenborough told Sky News. "It's absurd to suggest that we can do totally without plastic but there are certainly so many, many areas where we use plastic without a thought."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="fe6a2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="V8JGVP1576662828"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1004973020035895296" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Sir David Attenborough says he’s “optimistic” people will change their plastic habits to save marine life… https://t.co/z8ZKz4QfRs</div> — Sky Ocean Rescue (@Sky Ocean Rescue)<a href="https://twitter.com/SkyOceanRescue/statuses/1004973020035895296">1528439214.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style="">
Attenborough expressed optimism that the damage to our oceans can be reversed, but urges us to act now to protect the natural world or "the human race will regret it."
</p><p style="">
To mark World Oceans Day, BBC Earth released a special video <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCEarth/status/1005041749671206912" target="_blank">message</a> from the legendary broadcaster about the importance of our blue planet.
</p><p style="">
"The presence of the ocean touches every living thing no matter where it lives. The air we breathe and the water we consume are ultimately linked to the seas. The ocean drives our weather and stabilizes our <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate</a>. Nowhere is more powerful and unforgiving, yet more beautiful and endlessly fascinating," Attenborough narrates.
</p><p style="">
"Yet for too long we have taken the ocean for granted. Our actions have pushed species to the brink, and had an impact on every ocean habitat no matter how remote or how deep. The effects of climate change have been softened by the oceans, but now we are facing the consequences. The seas are warming, rising and becoming more acidic. It's a sobering thought that coral reefs may be lost within the next century."
</p><p style="">
"We all need a healthy ocean, so we must change our ways," Attenborough continues. "Together with the right management we can repopulate the seas. We can reduce marine pollution and minimize the impact of ocean acidification. The oceans' power of regeneration is remarkable if we just offer it the chance. It's not too late."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="64d22" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0H0T4X1576662828"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1005043438864257029" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">World Oceans Day: Saving Our Seas Starts With You https://t.co/6FMBuKVWtT @MarchForOcean @oceana @seashepherd… https://t.co/lFToPGr3uY</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/1005043438864257029">1528456003.0</a></blockquote></div>
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World's Largest Greenhouse Reopens to Safeguard Earth's Rarest and Most Threatened Plants
04 May 2018
Popular
The world's largest Victorian greenhouse will reopen its doors Saturday after a five-year, £41 million ($55 million) restoration effort.
The Temperate House, first opened to the public in 1863, is located in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, about 30 minutes from central London.
<p style="">
The greenhouse is home to 10,000 plants from 1,500 species native to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Islands, including some of the rarest and most threatened.
</p><p style="">There you'll find the
<a href="https://www.speciesconservation.org/case-studies-projects/yellow-fatu/702" target="_blank">Yellow fatu</a>, a critically <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/endangered-species">endangered</a> perennial plant native to Pitcairn Island, a remote island in the South Pacific. The delicate flower can no longer be found in the wild after a landslide destroyed the last remaining plant.<br></p><p style="">
You'll also see the <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2011/05/10/136029423/the-loneliest-plant-in-the-world" target="_blank">loneliest plant in the world</a>—a male <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41881/0" target="_blank">Wood's cycad</a>. Lead horticulturalist Scott Taylor, who oversees the Temperate House collection, explained to the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43980567" target="_blank">BBC</a> that the search is still going for a female cycad so <em>Encephalartos woodii</em> can be bred. </p><p style="">"We have a really important job to keep all of these things going," Taylor said. "For some plants that are down to a few individuals in the wild—a wildfire, an earthquake, and they're gone."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="9b122" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="RBQWY21576662744"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="991936255230382080" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Coming up on #r4today the loneliest plant in the world and the vital science being done @kewgardens #TemperateHouse https://t.co/om5VQV0a9C</div> — Tom Feilden (@Tom Feilden)<a href="https://twitter.com/BBCTomFeilden/statuses/991936255230382080">1525331007.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style="">
The "jewel" in the Temperate House, the <a href="https://www.kew.org/blogs/in-the-gardens/jacaranda-mimosifolia-a-jewel-in-the-temperate-house-treasure-trove" target="_blank">Jacaranda mimosifolia</a>, contains an extract capable of treating some bacteria better than gentamicin sulphate, a well-known antibiotic. The fern-like tree is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as "vulnerable."</p><p style="">"With the global challenges of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change" target="_blank">climate change</a>, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/biodiversity" target="_blank">biodiversity</a> loss and food security, these important plant collections highlight Kew's role in safeguarding rare and threatened plants from extinction," the garden notes on its <a href="https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/attractions/temperate-house" target="_blank">website</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed" style="">
</p><div id="01a01" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="B9TE011576662744"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="992313698965274624" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">A jewel in the #TemperateHouse treasure trove, the ‘fern tree’ Jacaranda mimosifolia could hold the key to fighting… https://t.co/VBcGBgKtOk</div> — Kew Gardens (@Kew Gardens)<a href="https://twitter.com/kewgardens/statuses/992313698965274624">1525420996.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style="">The restoration of the greenhouse involved the replacement of 15,000 panes of glass, 1,400 gallons of paint (enough to cover four football pitches), and tents large enough to cover three Boeing 747s. Four-hundred staff members and contractors worked on the project in phases, taking 1,731 days to complete.<br></p><p style="">
Famed naturalist David Attenborough, who helped reopen the greenhouse earlier this week, told <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43980567" target="_blank">BBC</a> he first visited Kew Gardens "back when it cost a penny."
</p><p style="">
"When I had an office job at the BBC, when I used to be stuck in the office and get really depressed, I would come here at the weekend and take a deep breath, because there was a smell of the tropics," he said.
</p><p style="">
"Plant species can go extinct just like animal species can go extinct," Attenborough added. "[So] this is a very important institution."</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="2732b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6IBYYU1576662744"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="935094631506890752" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">12 Houseplants That Have the Power to Heal https://t.co/XcTeP6yudD @GreenpeaceUK @Green_Europe</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/935094631506890752">1511778908.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Trending
Royal Family / Twitter
Queen Elizabeth II is banning plastic straws and bottles across the royal estates.
The Telegraph reported that the monarch is behind Buckingham Palace's plans to phase out single-use plastics from public cafes, royal residences and staff dining rooms.
<p>
Royal caterers will instead use china plates and glasses or recyclable paper cups. Takeaway food from the Royal Collection cafes must be made of compostable or biodegradable packaging.
</p>
<p>
"Across the organization, the Royal Household is committed to reducing its environmental impact," a palace spokesman said, according to the Telegraph.
</p>
<p>
"As part of that, we have taken a number of practical steps to cut back on the use of plastics. At all levels, there's a strong desire to tackle this issue."
</p>
<p>
The Queen was reportedly inspired to take action after working with famed naturalist Sir David Attenborough on a conservation documentary about wildlife in the Commonwealth.
</p>
<p>
Attenborough's "Blue Planet II" documentary that aired last year highlighted the
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/22-facts-about-plastic-pollution-and-10-things-we-can-do-about-it-1881885971.html">devastating effects</a> of plastic on our <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans" target="_blank">oceans</a> and marine life.
</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="74b8b3aa6ab9c5cd0b8328c4f353819b"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I4QNolP7Khc?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
</p>
<p>
The Royal family is dedicated to a number of
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/prince-harrys-moving-photos-from-africa-trip-show-brutal-reality-of-po-1882128405.html">environmental causes</a>. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/prince-charles-ocean-plastic-2414062935.html">Last year,</a> Prince Charles helped launch a $2 million competition to stop the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/8-million-metric-tons-of-plastic-dumped-into-worlds-oceans-each-year-1882012563.html">8 million tons of plastics</a> from entering our oceans each year, which Charles described as an "escalating ecological and human disaster."
</p>
<p>
British lawmakers are
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/microbeads-ban-uk-2523906473.html">also urging</a> for more action to fight plastic pollution. A ban on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/microbeads" target="_blank">microbeads</a> came into force in Britain last month, an initiative that will "stop billions of pieces of plastic entering our ecosystem, helping to protect our precious seas and oceans," Prime Minister Theresa May <a href="https://twitter.com/theresa_may/status/950688770659176448" target="_blank">tweeted</a> then.
</p>
<p>
In 2015, a 5p (5 British pennies) fee was introduced on plastic carrier bags, which led to 9 billion fewer bags being used.
</p>
<p>
<span></span>"It's making a real difference," May said of the bag fee. "We want to do the same with single use plastics."
</p>
<p>
<span></span>Many businesses in the UK are getting on board with cutting out plastics. Starbucks recently introduced a 5p disposable cup charge in 20 to 25 central London outlets to encourage customers to switch to reusable cups. And Iceland Foods, a major UK supermarket chain specializing in frozen food, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-pollution-mcdonalds-2525962206.html" target="_blank">announced</a> that it will eliminate plastic packaging from its own brand of products by the end of 2023.
</p>
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This was a year of tug-of-war for the environment. With Donald Trump becoming president of the U.S. at a time when wildfires, hurricanes, and floods were devastating the country, it was challenging for scientists, activists and concerned citizens to get their voices heard. But several stood out as global leaders on climate and helped give rise to those who were silenced. Below are 14 of the most notable influencers of 2017 and how they fought for a cleaner, safer environment for all.
<p>
1. Emmanuel Macron
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDIxNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTA4NDAwOX0.ZUpgdaaSQJIDNGMTP2kqEiS98uLQCil6aGXqM5dXJiU/img.jpg?width=980" id="ed414" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="68291954c5d4c5102a1ac3f8082ca22f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
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After his inauguration as president of France, just a few months after U.S. President Donald Trump, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/emmanuel-macron" target="_self">Emmanuel Macron</a> made immediate waves. He started off by addressing Trump's withdrawal from the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/paris-agreement">Paris agreement</a> with a "<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/macron-climate-scientists-france-2440280116.html" target="_self">Make Earth Great Again</a>" slogan and welcoming American climate scientists to France to continue their research. He forged on, offering <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/france-climate-awards-2516598161.html" target="_self">multi-year grants</a> totaling $70 million. Macron also hosted the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/coal-companies-one-planet-summit-2517129095.html" target="_self">One Planet Summit</a> where 20 international companies announced they would phase out <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coal">coal</a>. With his continued criticism of Trump's decisions regarding the planet, Macron has proven himself a global leader on <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate change</a> and has set the stage for progress in 2018.</p><p>2. Elon Musk</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDQ2MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjI1MjkyMH0.n2u25YHbM5PFoHZNO7YRvqvRPeWMDF5Yb3U5mqV2v9g/img.jpg?width=980" id="6de02" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="da4b4658cb0745b94c0c0bf476a92f8d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/elon-musk" target="_self">Elon Musk</a>, entrepreneur and founder of several companies including SpaceX, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/tesla" target="_self">Tesla</a> and SolarCity, began 2017 with a seat on President Trump's economic advisory council. Musk made multiple attempts to reverse Trump's stance on climate change, but after Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement, Musk left the council on June 1, causing a huge media storm. Then in October, when <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/hurricane-maria">Hurricane Maria</a> devastated Puerto Rico and left the islands without power, Musk swooped in and began building a <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar">solar</a> grid. He started with restoring a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tesla-puerto-rico-solar-2501230169.html" target="_self">children's hospital</a> in San Juan and has continued delivering and installing <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tesla-puerto-rico-solar-battery-2515317653.html" target="_self">Tesla battery systems</a> since. Musk has also made huge strides in green technology with his push for electric vehicles and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/">renewable energy</a> in the U.S., despite the Trump administration's favoritism towards the fossil fuel industry.<br></p><p>3. Angela Merkel</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDI5NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjY1MDI0NH0.PE9gIUFpZCA2HxLlWdXP1k866n-_j1Ut1eXHq0l7EHY/img.jpg?width=980" id="1802a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1b30cc264e13f836290059200cfe3dfb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stepped up to the plate as one of 2017's female leaders on climate in a multitude of ways. Nicknamed the "Climate Chancellor," Merkel has outwardly expressed her differences with Trump, calling his stance on climate change "regrettable." She<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-putin-2454918187.html" target="_self"> reassured the UN</a> that Germany would uphold its targets for the Paris agreement, despite the U.S. change of heart. She has also made significant progress in ensuring sustainable growth in Germany with the G20 Hamburg Climate and Energy Action Plan for Growth. Then, in November at the<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/cop23" target="_self"> COP23</a> in Bonn, Germany, Merkel sent a strong message to all global leaders, saying "we will not be able to adhere to the 2°C or 1.5°C target with the current national commitments. That is why each and every contribution is incredibly important."</p><p>4. Bernie Sanders</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDI1MS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzkzMDIzM30.B2vXZyPL2FsKW89ez-TkePXESFb_Hjb54kXy8_pQ27g/img.png?width=980" id="ecfd1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2e3e21ed81f4fb1a699ea84838ed808a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>
Senator <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bernie-sanders" target="_self">Bernie Sanders</a> didn't let his loss in the 2016 presidential race stop him from speaking out on climate. In 2017, Sanders relentlessly criticized Trump's rejection of the Paris agreement and his outright denial of climate <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/science/">science</a>. He is one of the few politicians who has spoke out about the<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/sanders-energy-bill-2464667836.html" target="_self"> Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017</a>, which aims to expand the fossil fuel industry. He also introduced a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/transformation-blueprint-puerto-rico-2513303662.html" target="_self">$146 billion recovery package</a> for Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria hit and Trump neglected to provide relief. The package would rebuild Puerto Rico's infrastructure with sustainable resources. He also helped to introduce the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/clean-energy-bill-merkley-sanders-markey-2381516585.html" target="_self">100 by 50 Act</a>, which would support workers in the fossil fuel industry while simultaneously phasing out fossil fuels by 2050. </p><p>5. Pope Francis</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDI1NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NDQ3MDgwMH0.6aXIpGTje_WM9IILSJNVQU0oaCh6JlXx4AatYpTtVRM/img.jpg?width=980" id="33fc4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0c91f6f4182382ca11da966add91d30e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>
Pope Francis has openly condemned <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-denier" target="_self">climate change deniers</a> for years, but 2017 might have been the most radical year yet for the sovereign. In February, the Pope spoke up for<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/pope-frances-dapl-2265564461.html" target="_self"> indigenous peoples</a> and their right to consent when it comes to government activities on their sacred lands. The strong words came shortly after President Trump signed two executive orders calling for the approval of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines in January, though the Vatican said the timing was coincidental. On <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/pope-francis-climate-change-hunger-2497286479.html" target="_self">World Food Day</a> in October, the Pope urged governments to mitigate climate change, as it is a lead driver of the increase in world hunger. And in November at COP23, he outlined four "<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/pope-francis-cop23-2510283678.html" target="_self">perverse attitudes</a>" that are preventing climate action. To top it off, he also acquired an <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/pope-francis-nissan-leaf-2294820792.html" target="_self">electric car</a>.</p><p>6. Michelle Rodriguez</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDI1Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxOTQyNzQ3MX0.0_BuMsiiUgIv1eGxC5ACSPvHKOM-vt-SPuW8BuSeWKA/img.jpg?width=980" id="b040c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0824cb85cc66bfa0409924c8e930ab05" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>Actress and climate activist Michelle Rodriguez is one of the newer voices of the climate movement. In March, Rodriguez joined an all-woman survey team known as <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/michelle-rodriguez-baby-seals-2336771103.html" target="_self">Operation Ice Watch</a> on an expedition to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada where the seal population is under siege by hunting and ice loss caused by climate change. Led by the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/community/seashepherdconservationsociety/">Sea Shepherd Conservation Society</a> and <a href="https://www.animaljustice.ca/" target="_blank">Animal Justice</a>, the crew surveyed the ice, or lack thereof, while filming a documentary to raise awareness about the "ecological catastrophe." Rodriguez also partnered with <a href="https://my.seashepherd.org/OperationTSP" target="_blank">Operation Taino Spirit Promise</a> and <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/" target="_blank">Sea Shepherd</a> to provide relief to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria struck and start a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/puerto-rico-sustainability-2515065901.html" target="_self">campaign</a> for a sustainable rebuild.</p><p><span></span>7. Michael Bloomberg<br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDI5MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMDI3NTgzNX0.LU8u8DBtXeVCJoMgXZm998Ny5gCZkjxbj3ujTB5sVLU/img.jpg?width=980" id="9e2e5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e9817bbcef0a909ddd85207f1e23dca5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was also a notable influencer of 2017, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/cop-23-same-canoe-2509377631.html" target="_self">representing the U.S. at COP23</a> where he, alongside Governors Jerry Brown of California and Jay Inslee of Washington introduced the <a href="https://www.wearestillin.com/about" target="_blank">We Are Still In</a> coalition, a network of U.S. politicians who support climate action despite Trump's withdrawal from the Paris agreement. In October, Bloomberg also announced that his charity would donate $64 million to the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/bloomberg-coal-sierra-club-2495882707.html" target="_self">retirement of U.S. coal plants</a>, greatly impeding Trump's efforts to revive the American <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coal" target="_self">coal industry</a>.</p><p><span></span>8. Patricia Espinosa<br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDMwMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTA3NTk4OX0.bkqVMS5Yr4gSUrPww9GAQNONoSBakNB1oMOuyxeLOmA/img.jpg?width=980" id="b414f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3c19872c44cab799126158e2706068f4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>Mexican politician and current executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa made significant progress on shifting the dialogue surrounding climate action in 2017. In<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/shell-climate-video-2290679999.html" target="_self"> February</a>, she said getting fossil fuel companies "on board" is a critical factor in combating climate change. She also used her position to direct the climate conversation away from technology and toward security, arguing that security officials "understand that our current crisis pales in comparison to what is coming if climate change is left unchecked." She also spoke about women's involvement at COP23 and introduced the Gender Action Plan to promote meaningful participation by women in the climate movement.<br></p><p>9. Al Gore<br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDMwNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxODQ3NzI5MH0.-_PWKiRPPIaFKJbMvBGdgclg2RQeIREPInQ-i1FkdAY/img.jpg?width=980" id="19e77" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="279647b1b892d7b8b584a94c3436e243" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>Former vice president and environment activist <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/community/al_gore/" target="_self">Al Gore</a> is known for his stance on climate change. But in 2017, with the release of his newest documentary "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power," Gore found another big spotlight. In July, he boldly <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/al-gore-paris-agreement-2456658881.html" target="_self">predicted</a> that the U.S. would still meet the targets of the Paris agreement, despite Trump's about-face in June. On Dec. 4-5, Gore also hosted the Climate Reality Project's "<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/24-hours-reality-matters-2515687039.html" target="_self">24 Hours of Reality</a>," where he highlighted citizens taking action all across the globe to inspire others to do the same. The program reached more than half a billion viewers on TV and 32 million online, making it the world's largest social broadcast on climate to date.<br></p><p>10. Jerry Brown</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDM2MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMzYwOTk0M30.87-_ssW-F7pvXp3mJ5S6xwicmnK4l0AVkM3vEoG3s4Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="d72d9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6eaee9c3dc801c069873f10188e59ce0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>At almost every turn for the past 365 days, California Governor <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/jerry-brown" target="_self">Jerry Brown</a> has undermined President Trump. In June, almost immediately after Trump's withdrawal from the Paris agreement, Brown partnered with <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/brown-china-climate-deal-2435721752.html" target="_self">Chinese President Xi Jinping</a> to continue expanding green technology and trade. In July, Brown extended California's climate legislation to reduce <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/greenhouse-gases" target="_self">greenhouse gas emissions</a>, to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. And as wildfires have raged through the state and region, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/california-brown-trump-climate-2500805926.html" target="_self">Brown said</a> he was "linking with other similar-minded people all over the world" and "pushing forward even as Trump blusters."<br></p><p>11. Noam Chomsky</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDM2MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNDIwMTc4NH0.LMilPhdJDomKAiRwjnRFyIIK_zz9YIAonE_yz89-XzQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="bced1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3a11feaac20617ac2fab9fb0198a8601" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>Well known linguist and scientist <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/noam-chomsky-trump-2454319460.html" target="_self">Noam Chomsky</a> spoke out numerous times in 2017 for the sake of the environment. In an <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/chomsky-trump-undermine-survival-2333432702.html" target="_self">interview with Truthout</a> in March, Chomsky called out the Trump administration for cutting federal spending to the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/epa">U.S Environmental Protection Agency</a> and the Department of Energy, stating that his actions are an "attack against future generations." In May he spoke out again, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/noam-chomsky-gop-trump-climate-2404621379.html" target="_self">telling BBC Newsnight</a> that the Republican Party's denial of climate change has made them the most dangerous organization "in human history." Chomsky's criticisms opened up an intellectual dialogue for conservative voters and encouraged the scientific community to weigh in.<br></p><p>12. Leonardo DiCaprio</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDM2Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDU4Njk1Mn0.ADWC2PMXfzDplWntUXi3UeVnhKakVSiqs2xzmNYmrvM/img.jpg?width=980" id="5abfb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="09368c6b5c1100b70aff5033ef346aef" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>Actor and philanthropist <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/leonardo-dicaprio" target="_self">Leonardo DiCaprio</a> made impressive strides on climate action in 2017, including investing in the entirely plant-based food company <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/dicaprio-beyond-meat-2498081823.html" target="_self">Beyond Meat</a> and a farm-raised seafood company <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/leonardo-dicaprio-lovethewild-2307586570.html" target="_self">LoveTheWild</a>. In June, DiCaprio also partnered with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to conserve the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/dicaprio-vaquita-oceans-day-2436761026.html" target="_self">Gulf of California</a> for the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/vaquita">vaquita</a> porpoise, classified as the most endangered marine mammal in the world. Most recently, at the Yale Climate Change Conference in September, DiCaprio announced that his foundation will be awarding <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/leonardo-dicaprio-foundation-awards-2487597805.html" target="_self">$20 million in grants</a> to more than 100 environmental organizations.<br></p><p>13. Stephen Hawking</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDM2My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzAyOTQxNX0.aosjX4rOT_uI7Q-xIus9bFDSQmYKf-G9sSHqDU-nT5U/img.jpg?width=980" id="3c8b8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="605025c746efa309e1b769c6798498b0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>World-renowned theoretical physicist <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/stephen-hawking" target="_self">Stephen Hawking</a> represented the majority of the scientific community in 2017 on several occasions, urging Trump to stop denying evidence of climate change. In June, Hawking had a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/stephen-hawking-trump-2452539680.html" target="_self">few choice words </a>about the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris agreement, warning that "we are close to the tipping point where <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">global warming</a> becomes irreversible." And in November, Hawking once again pushed Trump to stop <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/hawking-trump-science-2513514825.html" target="_self">denying climate change</a> and take action. Hawking nearly gave up on Earth altogether, telling WIRED UK that "our Earth is becoming too small for us, global population is increasing at an alarming rate and we are in danger of self-destructing."<br></p><p>14. David Attenborough</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNjk2NDM2NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzM1MDQ3MX0.0DolTBfyoHa8qhomzmTMRWVUfesEksDnYN3v3M6zSKU/img.jpg?width=980" id="54dd2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6c0c54783d6958260742f4220e705134" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>English documentary filmmaker and naturalist David Attenborough, whose series <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/david-attenborough-blue-planet-ii-2490636664.html">Blue Planet II</a> began in October, spoke out several times on plastic pollution in 2017. In September, Attenborough told <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/community/greenpeace/" target="_self">Greenpeace</a> of the "heartbreaking" footage he recorded of mother birds feeding their babies plastic, an iconic moment for him that pushed him to speak up about <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics" target="_self">plastic pollution</a> in oceans., and tell Trump to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/david-attenborough-plastics-2514828090.html">reconsider his withdrawal</a> from the Paris agreement. He emphasized that "never before have we been so aware of what we are doing to our planet—and never before have we had such power to do something about it."<br></p>
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David Attenborough is urging the world to cut plastic waste to help save our oceans.
The revered British naturalist demonstrates how the ubiquitous material harms marine life in his new BBC series, Blue Planet II, a sequel to the 2001 documentary "The Blue Planet." One scene even shows an albatross accidentally feeding its young a plastic toothpick—a moment that Attenborough describes as "heartbreaking," as the baby bird is shown dead after the feeding.
<p style="">
In a Radio Times column (via
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/david-attenborough-blue-planet-ii-bbc-radio-times-donald-trump-paris-agreement-climate-change-a8089196.html" target="_blank">The Independent</a>), the 91-year-old broadcaster wrote about the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/8-million-metric-tons-of-plastic-dumped-into-worlds-oceans-each-year-1882012563.html">eight million metric tonnes</a> of plastic that enters our ocean every year.
</p><p style="">
"Never before have we been so aware of what we are doing to our planet—and never before have we had such power to do something about it," he wrote. "Surely we have a responsibility to care for the planet on which we live? The future of humanity, and indeed of all life on Earth, now depends on us doing so."
</p><p>
However, Attenborough noted that "all is not yet lost" and is calling on all people to "reduce the amount of plastic that we use in our everyday lives".
</p><p style="">
He also called on
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-watch/">President Donald Trump</a> to reconsider his intention to withdraw the U.S. from the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/paris-agreement">Paris agreement</a>.
</p><p style="">
"Let us hope that Trump will eventually recognise that the Paris agreement was not about Pittsburgh, or even Paris, but the entire planet," he said.
</p><p style="">
Attenborough speaks about the scene with the albatross feeding around the 1:30 mark in the video above. He says, "There is a shot of the young being fed and what comes out of the beak of the adult? Not sand eels, not fish, and not squid, which is what they mostly eat, but plastic. It's heartbreaking. Heartbreaking."
</p>
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