Ah… what would nature documentaries be without the soothing voice of Sir David Attenborough? And what would nature conservation and restoration of our beautiful planet be without his massive influence?
With a career that spans over 70 years (and counting!), the broadcaster, natural historian, author, and environmental advocate is most famous for his work with the BBC, including documentaries such as Life on Earth, the Living Planet, Our Planet and Our Blue Planet.
See also: David Attenborough: 10 Best Documentaries to Watch
So, it should come as no surprise that the UN has awarded Sir David Attenborough the Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding commitment and dedication to research, documentation, and advocacy for the protection of nature and its restoration.
Considered the highest environmental honour, the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Champions of the Earth awards individuals, groups, and organisations from government, civil society, and the private sector whose actions have had a transformative impact on the environment.
“Sir David Attenborough has devoted his life to documenting the love story between humans and nature, and broadcasting it to the world. If we stand a chance of averting climate and biodiversity breakdowns and cleaning up polluted ecosystems, it’s because millions of us fell in love with the planet that he showed us on television,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director.
Watch Sir David Attenborough’s reaction when receiving the award:
In the video, Attenborough said, “The world has to get together. These problems cannot be solved by one nation – no matter how big that single nation is. We know what the problems are and we know how to solve them. All we lack is unified action.”
“Fifty years ago, whales were on the very edge of extinction worldwide. Then people got together and now there are more whales in the sea than any living human being has ever seen. If we act together, we can solve these problems.”
Take action today by watching David Attenborough’s best documentaries, then learn more about the UN Champions of the Earth awardees.
Learn more about the UN Champions of the Earth
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See also: David Attenborough: 10 Best Documentaries to Watch
