David Attenborough to present new BBC film on climate change: 'If we do not take dramatic action, we could face the collapse of our societies'

Broadcaster has called climate change humanity's 'greatest threat' in thousands of years

Sir David Attenborough will present an "urgent" new documentary on climate change for the BBC, it has been announced.

Last year, the legendary broadcaster called climate change "humanity's greatest threat in thousands of years" at the opening ceremony of the UN climate change conference.

He warned it would lead to the collapse of civilisations and the extinction of "too much" of the natural world.

The new one-off documentary will show footage that reveals the impact global warming has already had. Attenborough says conditions have changed "far faster" than he ever imagined when he first began speaking about the environment 20 years ago.

"It may sound frightening, but the scientific evidence is that if we have not taken dramatic action within the next decade, we could face irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies," he says in the documentary.

The BBC said the film would offer "an unflinching explanation of what dangerous levels of climate change could mean for human populations."

Director of content Charlotte Moore said: "There is a real hunger from audiences to find out more about climate change and understand the facts.

"We have a trusted guide in Sir David Attenborough, who will be speaking to the challenging issues that it raises, and present an engaging and informative look at one of the biggest issues of our time."

Climate Change – The Facts will be broadcast on BBC One this spring.