David Attenborough’s latest documentary is a stark reminder that a global pandemic isn’t the only thing going on right now. David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet is the culmination of a 60-year career for Attenborough. It is also his witness statement for the environment and the effects of climate change.
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet | Official Trailer | Netflix
To be honest, A Life On Our Planet can get downright depressing at times. Thanks to humans, there is only 35% of the world’s natural wilderness left, which has been destroyed to make room for the 7.5 billion people currently on Earth. When Attenborough began his career it was 66%. That’s half of the world’s natural spaces destroyed in 80 years.
Attenborough then gives some terrifying predictions. In 2030, if deforestation of the Amazon rainforest continues, it will degrade to the point of becoming a dry savanna, which will alter the global water cycle. By 2100 the planet will be 4 degrees Celsius warmer, by which time we will apparently be enduring the sixth mass extinction event. Yeah, not good.
You’re probably thinking, ‘but what can I do?’ and the good news is that Attenborough includes some solutions in A Life On Our Planet that could stop the climate change. There are things we can all do to help and Attenborough even has a personal message to Aussies, to tell us how:
Curbing the rising populationA message from Sir David Attenborough to Australians on why he hopes they will watch his new documentary feature.
— Netflix ANZ (@NetflixANZ) October 4, 2020
🎬 David Attenborough: A Life on our Planet is now streaming. #AttenboroughFilm pic.twitter.com/ZU0mgSpG87
At the rate that the population is currently growing, by 2100 Earth is set to be home to 11 billion people. To slow this growth, Attenborough believes that improving access to healthcare and enabling young children, particularly girls, to complete an education at school is vital.
The idea is that with better education, women worldwide will marry later and have fewer children whilst still having access to better careers and economic prospects. Stay in school, kids.
Moving to renewable energy sources
The renewable energy idea has been around for a while but is now more urgent than ever. The fact is fossil fuels won’t last forever, but solar, wind, and hydropower can be sourced naturally and endlessly. Attenborough gives the example of Morocco, which once relied on imported gas and oil for all its energy, but now the city generates 40% of its power from its own solar farm.
This is something that needs to be taken up by bigger companies, but we at home also have the chance to make a difference by reducing our power use and switching to green energy providers.
Rewilding our planet
Restoring biodiversity to areas we have destroyed is crucial. For example, fish stocks in our oceans are rapidly depleting. We over-fish our oceans to the point that the remaining fish have no time to breed. But by supporting the implementation of no-fish zones we give fish the chance to repopulate the oceans. Choosing to buy sustainably caught fish is another way to support ocean ecosystems worldwide.
Switching to a plant-based diet
Farming space is another big one. Attenborough says that if we all switched to a largely plant-based diet we would only need half the current farming land. Many people are overwhelmed by the idea of switching cold turkey to a vegan or vegetarian diet. But it can be something simple, like cutting down to 2-3 portions of meat a week, that makes a difference.
Australia’s sugar crops are a big part of the reason the Great Barrier Reef is degrading. Looking for the ‘Bonsucro’ logo when buying items containing sugar can help to support responsibly grown sugar cane. Similarly, looking for palm oil-free or sustainable palm oil products will help keep to keep the homes of cute orangutans safe.
Links
- Campaign Seeks 1bn People To Save Climate – One Small Step At A Time
- Amid Planet’s Crisis, Filmmaker Sir David Attenborough’s ‘Vision For The Future’
- (UK) Earthshot Prize: Prince William Launches £50m Drive To Repair Planet
- Sir David Attenborough’s Latest Doc Is His Witness Statement To The World
- Starting Gun Fired On Global Hunt For Hundreds Of Billions To Fund Nature Protection
- David Attenborough Leads Call For World To Invest $500 Billion A Year To Protect Nature
- (AU) David Attenborough Urges The World To Act On Climate Change
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