Sir David Attenborough says coronavirus means climate change has been put 'in the distant future'
Sir confesses the debate on is a matter for the distant future due to . The renowned natural historian, 94, believes the global pandemic has rightly struck the safeguarding of the planet off the front pages off the front pages. With November's COP26 international climate talks in also pushed back due to the virus, Sir David admits he is focusing on COVID-19 for the time being - but says the climate change debate must still remain in people's minds. He told the So Hot Right Now podcast: The trouble is that right now the climate issue is also seen as being rather in the distant future because weve got the virus to think about. And so what are the papers full of? The virus. Quite right, thats what I want to know about, too. But we have to make sure that this issue, which was coming to the boil with the next COP meeting in Glasgow, has suddenly been swept off the front pages. And weve got to get it back there. The number of worldwide coronavirus cases has already surpassed the 5 million mark, with nearly 350,000 deaths. With countries working together to try and combat the global pandemic, Sir David believes that the world could benefit from the changes the virus will bring in the long-term. He adds: What the result of coronavirus is going to be I dont know. But Im beginning to get a feeling that for the first time the nations of the world are beginning to see that survival depends on co-operation. If that happens, thats going to be a first in human history. When climate change does come back to the forefronts on people's minds, Sir David will be turning to fellow climate activists to promote the importance of protecting the planet against global warming. One of those vital figures is Greta Thunberg, 17, with the British broadcaster praising the Swedish teenager for breathing fresh air into youth interest in climate change. On Thunberg's influence, Sir David said: I think shes very remarkable. And what is more she is, with all that power, she is nonetheless extremely modest. 'She is extremely well informed. But shes also very modest. And she keeps saying: Look, the only guide has to be the science, we must follow what the science says. And while Thunberg has been subject to critics, Sir David responded: Thats the way life is, thats the way society is. And in fact if you arent particularly well informed about the natural world because somebody has stopped you because they are talking about an issue you dont know about, it shouldnt come as a surprise that there will be some people as a consequence of that who will act in an outraged way.