Sir David Attenborough has said he feels optimistic about the future of the environment because of a shift in attitudes towards protecting the natural world.
The 91-year-old veteran broadcaster, whose career has spanned seven decades, said there were “signs of hope” for planet Earth as more countries were improving conservation efforts.
Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Sir David said: “I spend a lot of time wringing my hands and saying how dreadful it is that this forest has been obliterated and that sea has been polluted and whatever. But there are signs of hope.
“There has been a worldwide shift, I think, among people in general about the concern there should be for the natural world. I am encouraged more than I have been for some time.”
The naturalist said he was encouraged by the 2016 Paris climate agreement, which united the world’s nations in tackling climate change.
He said the agreement was a “big advance” despite President Donald Trump announcing he would withdraw the US from the deal earlier this year.
“I would like to think the reason that political figures can adopt that sort of policy, which they know will be at a cost to their national economies, is that they are beginning to realise that people worldwide wish for that to happen because they wish to protect their natural world.
“I have the sense that worldwide, certainly in Europe, certainly in China – which we never thought before was concerned – and even perhaps if I may say so there are people in America – pace Mr Trump – who don’t accept that human beings can do no wrong.”
The broadcaster will return to the BBC for the new documentary series Blue Planet II, a sequel to his phenomenally popular 2001 series.
“Natural history programming is marvellous to look at... But I would go so far as to say it is extremely important that people around the world see what is happening,” Sir David told the festival.
