On World Environment Day, June 5, we reflect on the extraordinary career of Sir David Attenborough, who, beginning in the 1950s, evolved from a zoologist into a leading climate advocate, earning the UN’s highest environmental accolade.
“We must recognize that we are all citizens of one planet, or we won’t solve its problems,” Attenborough stated in an interview with the UN.
Over the course of his more than 70-year career at the BBC, Sir David—who recently turned 98—brought the natural world into millions of homes, from Zoo Quest in the 1950s to his iconic Planet Earth series in the 2020s. His work has highlighted the planet’s most remote ecosystems while emphasizing the urgency of protecting them.
In 2021, addressing global leaders at COP26 in Glasgow, Sir David delivered a powerful speech, with breathtaking visuals produced by Silverback Films, his long-time collaborators. “In my lifetime, I’ve witnessed a terrible decline. In yours, you could—and should—witness a remarkable recovery,” he urged.
Throughout his career, Sir David has consistently advocated for the protection of biodiversity, restoration of ecosystems, and addressing climate change. His impact was recognized in 2022, when the UN Environment Programme awarded him the Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award for his profound influence on the global environmental movement.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen noted, “If we have any hope of averting climate and biodiversity crises, it is because millions have fallen in love with the planet he revealed to us.”
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