David Attenborough Calls on Voters in US and Australia to Respond to Climate Science Denial Among Leaders

Rich
on

Veteran broadcaster David Attenborough has expressed his disappointment at the rise of climate science denial in the US and Australia and called on voters toย respond.

Noting the prevalence of climate science denial in certain countries while giving evidence to a committee of MPs in the UK, Attenborough said he was โ€œsorry that there are people in power and internationally, notably the United States, but also in Australiaโ€ where โ€œthose voices are clearly heardโ€. He said he hoped the โ€œelectorate will actually respondโ€ to public figures that promote climate scienceย denial.

Attenborough also said it would be โ€œa very sad dayโ€ if President Donald Trump succeeded in withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement, praising the UN process as an example of internationalย cooperation.

He accused climate science deniers of cherry-picking their data, arguing it โ€œisnโ€™t proofโ€ to find a particular example of where glaciers had grown, rather than shrunk. โ€œItโ€™s just an example,โ€ heย said.

โ€œThe proof is in the graphs, the proof is in the scientific records, the proof is in when you analyse bubbles from the sea ice and glacier ice to show you what has happened to the climate over the years,โ€ heย added.

However, Attenborough also said those that disagree with mainstream climate science should not be totallyย silenced.

โ€œIt is very, very, important that the voices of dissent should have a place where theyโ€™re heard and a place where the arguments between the two sides can be worked out in public and deterred and analysed in public. Thatโ€™s very important,โ€ heย said.

โ€œI think that the voice of criticism and the voice of disbelief should not be stampedย onโ€.

Nonetheless, Attenborough praised the global youth movement for being the โ€œstimulusโ€ for changing public understanding of environmental issues. โ€œThe idealism of youth is something that should be treasured and respected,โ€ heย said.

Attenborough was an unusually popular attraction for what can sometimes be dry parliamentary business, with committee member and Labour MP Vernon Coaker saying the documentary-maker had โ€œdrawn the youngest audience weโ€™ve ever hadโ€ to theย session.

Rich
Rich was the UK team's Deputy Editor from 2020-22 and an Associate Editor until September 2023. He joined the organisation in 2018 as a UK-focused investigative reporter, having previously worked for the climate charity Operation Noah.

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