TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to "listen to the science" on climate change, warning that billions of lives are at risk. The 64-year-old delivered a stark message at an emergency climate summit on Thursday, attacking what he called a "dangerous wave of misinformation" from fossil fuel lobbyists that is influencing decision-makers.
Packham questioned why progress on climate breakdown and biodiversity loss has slowed. He blamed the resurgence of climate denialism on "the well-oiled machines of the rich, powerful and influential lobbyists from the fossil fuel and other industries." Fossil fuel companies, he said, are "significant contributors" to some UK political parties.
"A dangerous wave of misinformation and lies fill our lives, but worse, it fills the lives of our decision makers and these are the people who shape policy," Packham told the summit attendees, which included MPs, peers, business leaders and celebrities.
Covid comparison
Packham drew a parallel with the recently published Covid inquiry, which he described as a "devastating indictment of poor governance." He argued that the climate crisis poses a "tragically far, far greater" threat than the pandemic.
"The failure to suppress the egos of government, their government departments and individuals, has cost lives," he said. "Because if you don't [listen to the science], things go wrong and lives are lost."
Call for action
Packham emphasized the scale of the threat: "It's not thousands, it's not hundreds of thousands, or millions of lives that are at risk, it's billions of lives that are at risk."
He called for unity and immediate action, telling leaders: "We are one species, on one planet, with one big problem, and one last chance to sort it out." Packham urged the UK to embark on an "immediate route to recovery," warning: "We have declared war on our one and only home, we've set or house on fire [...]."
He challenged decision-makers directly: "It's not about you, it's not about your departments, it's not about your parties, it's about us, those that have elected you."
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
