A life on our planet: my witness statement and a vision for the future. – Sir David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough, one of the UK’s most beloved figures, has witnessed the deterioration of the environment in less than a lifetime. His book is a call to action to save our planet for our own good. Climate change is man’s mistake, says Attenborough, which will lead to the fifth mass extinction in Earth’s history if nothing is done to remedy it. The loss of biodiversity is its main cause, since each living organism plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining the balance of nature, on which the oxygen we breathe and the food we eat depend. Nature will be renewed, with or without us, the author reminds us; protecting the environment is protecting ourselves. Attenborough proposes different solutions to restore biodiversity: eliminate poverty, provide access to public health and guarantee education for women to reduce the number of children per family, follow a mostly vegan diet, invest in renewables, promote urban and vertical agriculture and subsidise reforestation.