David Attenborough says ‘humans have overrun the world’ as he issues climate warning

‘The living world is a unique and spectacular marvel, yet the way we humans live on earth is sending it into a decline,’ Sir David says

David Attenborough has said humans have “overrun the planet” in a warning that the natural world is on the precipice of “disaster”.

The veteran broadcaster warned that, unless humanity began to act to mitigate our impact on the environment and “work with nature rather than against it” the planet will continue to decline.

It comes as the scale of the climate change and biodiversity crisis triggered by humanity is pushed to the fore by activists, while scientists continue to unearth concerning findings about the state of our planet.

Over the last month, researchers have confirmed the 2010s marked the hottest decade on record, while a separate study showed the planet’s ocean’s reached their warmest temperature on record in 2019.

The broadcaster’s​ intervention comes ahead of the release of his latest film – David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet – which the 92-year-old has described as “my witness statement and my vision of the future.”

“I’ve had the most extraordinary life.” he said in the trailer for the film, which will be shown in cinemas on 16 April. “It is only now that I appreciate how extraordinary”.

He added: “The living world is a unique and spectacular marvel, yet the way we humans live on earth is sending it into a decline.

“Human beings have overrun the world. We’re replacing the wild with the tame”.​

The WWF’s Colin Butfield, who served as executive producer on the film, said: “For decades, David has brought the natural world to the homes of audiences worldwide, but there has never been a more significant moment for him to share his own story and reflections.

“This film coincides with a monumental year for environmental action as world leaders make critical decisions on nature and climate.

“It sends a powerful message from the most inspiring and celebrated naturalist of our time.”

Sir David has increasingly used his platform to raise the alarm over climate change in recent years – telling parliament’s the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee in July that humanity “cannot be radical enough in dealing with these issues.”

“The question is what is practically possible. How we can take the electorate with us in dealing with these things.”

Additional reporting by PA.