Sir David Attenborough Has Been Named 'Champion Of The Earth'

David Attenborough has been named ‘Champion of the Earth’ under the United Nations’ Environment Programme.

The 95-year-old has been recognised with the lifetime achievement award for his decades of work unveiling the wonders of animals and plants on earth.

He said: “50 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.

“We know what the problems are and we know how to solve them. All we lack is unified action.”

UNEP Executive Director Inger Anderson also paid tribute to Sir David: "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 captured on film and writing, in his voice.”

'Champions of the Earth' is an annual awards programme that recognises influential environmental leaders from government, civil society and private and public sectors.

Past recipients of the lifetime achievement award include environmental racism activist Robert D. Bullard, indigenous Filipino environmentalist Joan Carling, and chair of clean energy firm Elion Resources Group, Wang Wenbiao.

The British broadcaster has always been known for his research on animals and for breaking down biodiversity's complexities. 

However, in recent years Attenborough has shifted his focus more towards the dangers of climate change, especially in his Netflix documentaries Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet and Life On Our Planet.

In Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet, Attenborough signals how the global warming crisis can be averted, while in Life On Our Planet, he explores the impact of biodiversity loss and nature's decline.

“A crime has been committed,” he said.“And it so happens that, I’m of such an age, that I was able to see it beginning.” 

He added: “It isn’t that I enjoy saying, 'Doom, doom, doom.'

"On the contrary, I’d much rather enjoy, take thrill, excitement, pleasure, joy, joy, joy, joy. But if you’ve got any sense of responsibility, you can’t do that.”