Springwatch presenter Chris Packham has revealed he is “ashamed” of his generation for leaving the young to bear the burden of the climate crisis.
The TV conservationist says he will do everything he can to redeem the failings, and revealed he even bent Prince Charles’s ear while being presented with a CBE last week.
In an exclusive interview for the MirrorNextGen project, Chris, 58, said: “This turmoil is going to be in young people’s lifetime and I am ashamed that our generations have done so little to prepare.
“If I’m going to get any redemption, I’ve got to try and do something to make things easier for young people, and the other species I like.”
Which is why he picked up his gong at Buckingham Palace in an Extinction Rebellion tie, and demanded a meeting on the issue.
“I had a word with Prince Charles,” reveals Chris. “I arranged to meet him to talk about some issues – I wouldn’t miss an opportunity like that.
“It’s slow progress but as long as it’s progress. We agreed it would be a good idea to meet. I went to get the CBE for a purpose, not just for a bit of jewellery.”
But Chris has nothing but fury for the MPs who missed a debate sparked by the climate change school strikes, when 1.6 million pupils walked out on March 15. Only a handful attended.
“It’s just disgusting,” Chris says. “I feel disappointed and disgusted and furious.
“Politicians completely failed in trying to understand what these young people were trying to do.
“The young people have the brightest minds, the most energy and they’re ambitious.
“Perhaps if some of our MPs were 40 years younger, a few more of them might have turned up.”
Former punk Chris points with hope to the fact that the Extinction Rebellion protest, which he joined, helped push the Government to declare a climate emergency.
He defended the controversial demo, which blocked traffic routes and saw more than 1,000 arrested in London.
“It was a peaceful protest and they got arrested for sitting down, not for breaking anything or threatening anyone.”
Speaking at his home in the New Forest, Hants, he added: “And within two weeks our Government had declared a climate and environmental emergency, and I’m sure Extinction Rebellion were part and parcel of that.”
Above all, Chris says, it’s up to the younger generations to safeguard the planet.
“I‘d like to think there was a future for life on earth and – even though I’m not a huge fan – for human life on earth.
“If we mess this up it’s going to be so embarrassing. What’s Darwin going to think?
“If we empower young people it will be of enormous benefit to everyone. This is an old punk thing: ‘The strength of the nation lies in its youth.’ And I’ve never forgotten that.”
