Sir David, Climate Change Prophet

 

David Attenborough is a superstar of nature documentaries with both Blue Planet and Blue Planet II among his many achievements. Sir David is still working despite being in his early nineties and will narrate a Netflix nature series next year, God willing. He began his career with the BBC in 1952 but his curiosity about the natural world began as a young child, which is so often the case with those who go on to be champions and interpreters of Earth's processes and biodiversity. 

Attenborough has a list of awards longer than a giraffe's neck but there have been criticisms that he focuses on the wonders of creation while ignoring the perils of the planet. 

There can be no doubt that he cares deeply about our planetary home after his speech at the beginning of COP 24, which is the informal name for the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. COP 24 is currently meeting in Poland with representatives from around the world, including observers from faith groups. 

In his address Attenborough said:

"Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years. Climate change. If we don't take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon. The world's people have spoken. Their message is clear. Time is running out. They want you, the decision-makers, to act now." 

Well, that's rather clear, isn't it? If observers were hoping for a bold and prophetic statement from Sir David they certainly got it.What matters now is whether anyone is listening and willing to act.

 

You might be interested to know The United Church of Canada is the only Canadian church with official observer status at COP. A press from KAIROS Canada says:


 Two women climate activists representing KAIROS Canada under the accreditation of The United Church of Canada are in Katowice, Poland as observers at the 24^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24), December 3-14. Jessica Steele and Georgine Kengne’s mission is twofold: to urge the Canadian government to increase its greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets, backed by an ambitious action plan, and to join other women climate activists in adding their voice to the COP24 process on the gendered impacts of climate change.

We can all pray that words will become action on behalf of Creation in all its complexity and beauty.