David Attenborough's 100th Birthday

“We must change our diet. The planet can’t support billions of meat-eaters. If we had a mostly plant-based diet we could increase the yield of the land.”

David Attenborough is one of the most recognisable voices on television. Through a decades long career, Attenborough has brought the wonder and fragility of the natural world into millions of homes across the planet. His style, both erudite and relaxed, has made him one of the most respected and listened to voices when it comes to conservation and protection of the environment.

“Half of fertile land on Earth is now farmland, 70 per cent of birds are domestic, the majority chickens. We are one third of animals on Earth. This is now our planet run by – and for – humans.

In a series of TV documentaries, including: Life on Earth (1979), The Living Planet (1984), The Life of Birds (1998), The Life of Mammals (2002–03), The Blue Planet (2001) and the Planet Earth series; David Attenborough has advocated for humans to spend the same effort in protecting animals as they have demonstrated in destroying their habitats.

 “I haven’t been a doctrinaire vegetarian or vegan, but I no longer have the same appetite for meat. Why? I’m not sure. I think subconsciously maybe it’s because of the state of the planet.”

Over the years, David Attenborough has held a number of advocacy and trustee roles, including: the UK WWF, The Royal Botanic Gardens, The Earthshot Prize, British Association for the Advancement of Science & The Wildlife Trusts.

“The best motto to think about is not to waste things. Don’t waste electricity; don’t waste paper; don’t waste food. Live the way you want to live but just don’t waste. Look after the natural world and the animals in it and the plants in it too. This is their planet as well as ours. Don’t waste them.”

In recent years, Attenborough’s work has focused more on climate change, and the threat to our continued existence that our lifestyles face. Climate Change – The Facts (2019), andDavid Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020) focused on the danger both humans and animals face from the declining natural world.

“Every breath of air we take, every mouthful of food that we take, comes from the natural world. And if we damage the natural world, we damage ourselves.”

David Attenborough has won a number of awards throughout his career, including: Eight BAFTAS, Three Primetime Emmys, and a Peabody Award. He has been elected a fellow of the Royal Society (1983), appointed to the Order of Merit (2005) and was knighted in 1985.

“The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchild may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?” 

David Attenborough has never stopped encouraging people to do their part to save the planet. He has advocated for reducing meat consumption, switching to renewable energy, restoring biodiversity planet-wide and setting aside areas for natural preservation. Even at 100, Sir David Attenborough remains an inspiration for environmentalists, conservationists and animal lovers worldwide.

“The final chapter is ours to write. We know what we need to do. What happens next is up to us.”