Editing David Attenborough (section)

===Environmentalist advocacy===
[[File:Sir David Attenborough- “O mundo está olhando para vocês”.webm|thumb|Attenborough speaking at the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference]]]]
By the turn of the millennium, Attenborough's authored documentaries were adopting a more overtly environmentalist stance. In ''[[State of the Planet]]'' (2000), he used the latest scientific evidence and interviews with leading scientists and [[conservationists]] to assess the impact of human activities on the natural world. He later turned to the issues of [[global warming]] (''[[The Truth about Climate Change]]'', 2006) and human population growth (''How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth?'', 2009). He contributed a programme which highlighted the plight of [[endangered species]] to the BBC's ''[[Saving Planet Earth]]'' project in 2007, the 50th anniversary of the Natural History Unit.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 September 2007 |title=IBC Honours BBC Natural History Unit For Contribution To Wildlife Film |publisher=4rfv.co.uk |url=http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?id=66138 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108102754/http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?id=66138 |archive-date=8 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=David Attenborough lays out 7 actions to save the world |work=MINDFOOD |access-date=6 September 2021 |url=https://www.mindfood.com/article/david-attenboroughs-7-actions-to-save-the-world/ |archive-date=28 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328061111/https://www.mindfood.com/article/david-attenboroughs-7-actions-to-save-the-world/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, Attenborough narrated ''[[Our Planet]]'', an eight-part documentary series, for [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/nov/08/david-attenborough-to-present-netflix-nature-series-our-planet |title=David Attenborough to present Netflix nature series Our Planet |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=8 November 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=9 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108223343/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/nov/08/david-attenborough-to-present-netflix-nature-series-our-planet |archive-date=8 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In contrast to much of his prior work for the BBC, this series emphasised the destructive role of human activities throughout the series. Before, he would often note concerns in a final section of the work.{{Sfn|Gouyon|2019|p=247–251}} He also narrated ''[[Wild Karnataka]]'', a documentary about the [[Karnataka]] forest area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/173503/wild-karnataka-documentary-david-attenborough-kalyan-varma-india/ |title=Exclusive: The Story Behind Wild Karnataka, India's First Blue Chip Natural History Film! |date=26 February 2019 |last=Norbu Wangchuk |first=Rincehn |access-date=27 February 2019 |publisher=[[The Better India]] |archive-date=5 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905203602/https://www.thebetterindia.com/173503/wild-karnataka-documentary-david-attenborough-kalyan-varma-india/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, Attenborough's one-off film documentary about climate change for BBC One called ''[[Climate Change – The Facts]]'' was aired; the tone of the documentary was significantly graver than his previous work for the BBC.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47666007 |title=Sir David Attenborough to present climate change documentary |work=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |date=22 March 2019 |access-date=23 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323071233/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47666007 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 April 2019 |title=Climate Change: The Facts review – our greatest threat, laid bare |url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/18/climate-change-the-facts-review-our-greatest-threat-laid-bare-david-attenborough |access-date=22 August 2021 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=22 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822150927/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/18/climate-change-the-facts-review-our-greatest-threat-laid-bare-david-attenborough |url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by ''[[Extinction: The Facts]]'', which is partly based on the 2019 [[IPBES]] [[Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services|report]] on the [[Biodiversity loss|decline of biodiversity]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Vaughan |first=Adam |date=6 September 2020 |title=Extinction: The Facts – An Attenborough guide to nature's destruction |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2253673-extinction-the-facts-an-attenborough-guide-to-natures-destruction/ |work=[[New Scientist]] |access-date=9 September 2020 |archive-date=7 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907092915/https://www.newscientist.com/article/2253673-extinction-the-facts-an-attenborough-guide-to-natures-destruction/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54118769 "Sir David Attenborough makes stark warning about species extinction"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928045146/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54118769 |date=28 September 2020 }}. BBC Science. Retrieved 14 October 2020</ref>

In 2020, Attenborough narrated the documentary film ''[[David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet]]''. The film acts as Attenborough's witness statement, reflecting on his career as a naturalist and his hopes for the future.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lowry |first=Brian |date=2 October 2020 |title=David Attenborough offers his 'witness statement,' and a warning, in 'A Life on Our Planet' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/02/entertainment/david-attenborough-a-life-on-our-planet-review/index.html |work=[[CNN]]|access-date=9 October 2020 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008031049/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/02/entertainment/david-attenborough-a-life-on-our-planet-review/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> It was released on Netflix on 4 October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet |url=https://www.netflix.com/title/80216393|access-date=27 March 2021|website= [[Netflix]] Official Site |archive-date=12 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312003952/https://www.netflix.com/title/80216393|url-status=live}}</ref> Further work for Netflix includes the documentary titled ''[[Breaking Boundaries|Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet]]'', released on 4 June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet release date – David Attenborough to narrate Netflix documentary |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/breaking-boundaries-the-science-of-our-planet-release-date-netflix/ |access-date=27 May 2021 |website=Radio Times |archive-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604102100/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/breaking-boundaries-the-science-of-our-planet-release-date-netflix/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2020, Attenborough began filming in Cambridge for ''[[The Green Planet (TV series)|The Green Planet]]''.<ref>[https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/david-attenborough-bbc-cambridge-programme-19018399 "Sir David Attenborough spotted filming in Cambridge for new series of The Green Planet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003163816/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/david-attenborough-bbc-cambridge-programme-19018399 |date=3 October 2020 }}. ''Cambridge News''. Retrieved 14 October 2020</ref> In 2021, Attenborough narrated ''[[A Perfect Planet]]'', a five-part [[earth science]] series for BBC One.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=Sarah |date=3 January 2021 |title=A Perfect Planet: Behind the scenes on David Attenborough's breathtaking new show |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/safaris-and-wildlife/perfect-planet-behind-scenes-david-attenboroughs-breathtaking/ |access-date=27 March 2021 |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=5 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205141248/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/safaris-and-wildlife/perfect-planet-behind-scenes-david-attenboroughs-breathtaking/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Attenborough was a key figure in the build-up to the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference]] (COP26) and gave a speech at the opening ceremony.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Attenborough's full speech: 'Not fear, but hope'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-59121615|access-date=5 November 2021|archive-date=4 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104205855/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-59121615|url-status=live}}</ref> In his speech, he stated that humans were "the greatest problem solvers to have ever existed on Earth" and spoke of his optimism for the future, finishing by saying "In my lifetime I've witnessed a terrible decline. In yours, you could and should witness a wonderful recovery."<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 November 2021|title=COP26: David Attenborough says world is looking to leaders|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59125138|access-date=5 November 2021|archive-date=5 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105201611/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59125138|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, the [[United Nations Environment Programme]] recognised Attenborough as a [[Champions of the Earth|Champion of the Earth]] "for his dedication to research, documentation, and advocacy for the protection of nature and its restoration".<ref name=champion /><ref>{{cite web |title=Sir David Attenborough named Champion of the Earth by UN |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61167925 |website=BBC News |access-date=21 April 2022 |date=20 April 2022 |archive-date=20 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420235456/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61167925 |url-status=live }}</ref>