Attenborough becomes 'people's Advocate' ahead of UN Summit
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London: Renowned natural historian and broadcaster, David Attenborough has been named as the people's Advocate for the forthcoming COP26 UN climate change summit in Glasgow in November.
Attenborough, who turned 95 on May 8, will address world leaders at major international events over the next six months, including the G7 Summit in Cornwall next month, to firmly put forward climate and the protection of nature at the top of their agenda.
He has also been invited to address world leaders and the public at the Glasgow Summit -- the most important climate meeting since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015.
"David Attenborough has already inspired millions of people in the UK and around the world with his passion and knowledge to act on climate change and protect the planet for future generations, said Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
"There is no better person to build momentum for further change as we approach the COP26 climate summit in November. I am hugely grateful to Sir David for agreeing to be our People's Advocate." He added.
On being appointed to the role, Attenborough said: "I am greatly honoured to be given the role of People's Advocate. There could not be a more important moment that we should have an international agreement.
"The epidemic has shown us how crucial it is to find agreement among nations if we are to solve such worldwide problems. But the problems that await us within the next 5-10 years are even greater. It is crucial that these meetings in Glasgow, COP26, have success, and that at last, the nations will come together to solve the crippling problems that the world now faces." He added.
Alok Sharma, who holds the cabinet-level role of president of COP26 in the Johnson government, said: "Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity and the stakes could not be higher for our planet. The next decade will be made, or break, for cutting global emissions sufficiently to avoid the worst effects of climate change".