People have been bowled over by Sir David Attenborough's emotional final plea to help the environment.

The 96-year-old broadcaster has spent his life teaching people about the natural world. In recent years, he has turned his attention to the devastating impact humans and climate change are having on animals and nature.

To mark the end of his most recent BBC documentary series Frozen Planet II, Attenborough delivered an impassioned final plea to audiences, asking them to do something to ensure a future for our planet.

During the episode - which aired on BBC One last Sunday (October 16) - viewers were confronted with heartbreaking footage of polar bears and penguins struggling to survive. They were also shown the brutal toll that receding sea ice is taking on wildlife around the world.

At the end of the episode, iconic broadcast Sir David spoke directly to the camera, begging audiences: "If we can do something about it, then do it."

"We can do it. We must do it. Then there will be a future for the planet," he said.

Attenborough's words clearly moved viewers. Many took to Twitter to discuss the episode, calling on policymakers to heed his warning and saying that it should be "compulsory viewing".

"Just wept watching #FrozenPlanet2 - heartbreaking. Should be compulsory viewing for every single politician, leader and policy maker. As Sir David Attenborough said 'We CAN do it. We MUST do it'. For the sake of our beautiful planet, we have to act NOW and all do our bit," one person wrote.

"Watching #FrozenPlanet2 tonight was tough. If David Attenborough can't convince people of the #ClimateEmergency then who can? This should be made compulsory viewing for global policymakers," added another.

"All climate change deniers need to watch tonight’s episode of #FrozenPlanet2 and then try to deny that there’s no climate change - simply frightening stuff," a third commented.

"Jesus, but #FrozenPlanet2 tonight was one of the most extraordinary and powerful pieces of telly I’ve ever seen. These programs are always brilliant, but seeing the effects of climate change so tangibly was a jarring watch. It should be compulsory viewing," a fourth tweeted.

Featured Image Credit:  Jeff Gilbert / Alamy

Although a broadcasting legend and environmental oracle celebrates his 100th birthday today, David Attenborough is aware he can’t live forever.

A few years ago, he addressed the sad reality of the world without him in an interview with Anderson Cooper on CBS's 60 Minutes.

Attenborough claimed that he did not fear death as long as it was a quick process.

Since the interview, he has managed to avoid his biggest fear, “becoming helpless and gaga”, and continued making incredible nature and wildlife documentaries.

On other occasions, he has said that he hopes his final moments won’t be painful or “tiresome for others”.

Sir David Attenborough has inspired countless generations through his work over the last 70 years. Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images

Attenborough has desperately urged people to look after the planet

The documentary maker has also made many pleas to people who will outlive him to take climate change seriously and protect our planet.

Remembering the shocking sight of a dead coral reef, Attenborough reminded people of the realities of climate change and said he hopes people would rediscover their passion for persevering and looking after the natural world.

He said: "I thought I was going to dive in, in eastern Australia on the Barrier Reef, and instead of seeing the most marvellous, beautiful, extraordinary, wonderful wonderland, it was a cemetery."

Throughout the course of his generation-spanning career, Sir David has shown people parts of the natural world that might otherwise have been undiscovered, and campaigned tirelessly to save it.

Speaking about the incredible things he has seen throughout his life, he warned that “many of these wonders seem set to disappear forever”.

Attenborough opened up about approaching 'the end of his life'. Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images

How will Sir David be celebrating his birthday?

His work has been greatly honored by recognition and awards, so much so that his official name is Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM GSMG CH CVO CBE FRS FSA FRSA FZS FRSGS FRSB.

In the last few years, as he grew closer to his centenary, Attenborough urged people to understand that we are “facing a crisis” and action is necessary if we want a “better future”.

To celebrate Attenborough’s 100th birthday, the BBC is broadcasting a live centennial gala from the Royal Albert Hall featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra performing iconic scores from his legendary natural history series.

This landmark event combines a musical journey through his career with live tributes and performances from orchestras from across the globe to honor his dedication to environmental advocacy.

Featured image credit: Rob Pinney / Getty Images

Sir David Attenborough is celebrating his 100th birthday today, but many of the warnings he made about the future of the planet are now closer than ever to becoming reality.

The legendary broadcaster, who has spent more than six decades documenting the natural world, previously issued a devastating prediction about what Earth could look like by the 2030s if climate change continues unchecked.

Sir David Attenborough is celebrating his 100th birthday today. Credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images

Back in 2020, the British national treasure released his Netflix documentary A Life On Our Planet, which he described as a "personal witness statement" on the growing environmental crisis.

In it, he warned that the damage being done to the planet could soon become irreversible.

"There are short-term problems and long-term problems. Politicians are tempted to deal with short-term problems all the time and neglect long-term problems," he said, per The Mirror.

"(Climate change) is not only a long-term problem, it is the biggest problem humanity has ever faced. Please examine it, and please respond," he continued.

The veteran presenter warned that by the 2030s, major environmental tipping points could begin reshaping life on Earth.

"In the 2030s, the Amazon Rainforest, cut down until it can no longer produce enough moisture, degrades into a dry savannah, bringing catastrophic species loss... and altering the global water cycle," he said.

"At the same time, the Arctic becomes ice-free in the summer. Without the white ice cap, less of the sun's energy is reflected back out to space. And the speed of global warming increases," he also added at the time.

Sir David Says Humanity Is Running Out Of Time

The broadcaster cautioned that the consequences would only deteriorate in the decades ahead.

By the 2040s, he predicted frozen soils in the north would begin releasing methane into the atmosphere, "accelerating the rate of climate change dramatically."

He also warned that by the 2050s, coral reefs around the world could die off as oceans continue heating and becoming more acidic. "As the ocean continues to heat and becomes more acidic, coral reefs around the world die. Fish populations crash," he shared.

Looking even further ahead, Sir Attenborough painted a bleak picture for humanity by the 2080s: "Global food production enters a crisis as soils become exhausted by overuse. Pollinating insects disappear... and the weather is more and more unpredictable."

He said by 2100, Earth could become four degrees warmer, leaving "Large parts of the earth are uninhabitable. Millions of people rendered homeless. A sixth mass extinction event... is well underway."

As Attenborough reflected on his own lifetime, he shared that someone born today who lives as long as he has will witness an almost unimaginable transformation.

"Within the span of the next lifetime, the security and stability of the Holocene, our Garden of Eden... will be lost," he said.

Sir Attenborough said that by 2030, the Arctic will start to suffer from ice-free summers. Credit: Pool / Getty

Stars gather to celebrate Attenborough's 100th birthday

As Attenborough marks the milestone birthday, a huge celebration is being held in his honour at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Presenter Kirsty Young will host the special concert, which will feature appearances from Sir Michael Palin, Steve Backshall, Liz Bonnin, and Chris Packham, BBC News reported.

Live performances will include music connected to some of the natural historian's most famous documentaries, including Planet Earth and Frozen Planet.

Bastille frontman Dan Smith is set to perform Pompeii alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra, while Sigur Rós will perform Hoppípolla.

Ahead of the event, Attenborough shared an emotional audio message thanking fans for their support.

"I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but it seems that many of you have had other ideas," he said. "I have been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings, from pre-school groups to care home residents, and countless individuals and families of all ages."

He added: "I simply can't reply to each of you separately, but I'd like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages, and wish those of you who have planned your own local events: Have a very happy day."

Featured image credit: Rob Pinney/Getty Images

Sir David Attenborough might be edging ever closer to 100 years old but he's showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

The legendary broadcaster, 97, has revealed that he has a new series due to hit screens later this year - meaning we have more of his dulcet tones to look forward to.

Sir David has been on screens for almost 70 years straight, having begun his broadcasting career in 1954 as the host of Zoo Quest.

And now, just three years shy of his 100th birthday, Sir David has been confirmed as the presenter Planet Earth III for the BBC.

The new series comes 17 years after Sir David first narrated the original Planet Earth series in 2006, as well as its sequel in 2016.

A third series had originally been commissioned in 2019 but faced setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdowns within the industry.

Now, according to new reports, Sir David has filmed his introductory scenes and will be recording the narration for the popular nature series.

According to The Mirror, executive producer Mike Gunton said: "Planet Earth wouldn’t be Planet Earth without David, so I’m delighted he is presenting the third series.

"As ever, he has brought his huge enthusiasm and wisdom, has been encouraging about our new perspective and has, I know, really enjoyed seeing the extraordinary new wonders brought to the screen."

Gunton revealed that the opening scenes of the series had been filmed "in the beautiful British countryside in exactly the location where Charles Darwin used to walk whilst thinking over his Earth-shaking ideas about evolution."

He added: "It seemed the perfect place for David to introduce Planet Earth III and remind us of both the wonders and the fragility of our planet. For him, of course, the sun shone under blue skies …one of the only days it did all summer!"

The third series will consist of eight episodes, with the first seven showing the behavior of animals across the world, from the spirit bear of Canada to tropical Mobula rays, and African Jacana birds.

It will showcase the strategies these animals have evolved over the years as well as the new challenges they face in the modern world.

The final episode in the series will honor the human "heroes" who dedicate their lives to saving certain species from going extinct.

It's no wonder Sir David is keen to continue his career on screen as he previously joked in 2013: "If I was earning my money by hewing coal I would be very glad indeed to stop. But I'm not. I'm swanning round the world looking at the most fabulously interesting things. Such good fortune."

And given we all love the shows he presents, long may he continue to do it.

Featured image credit: John Phillips/Getty Images

Ask a group people to name the most iconic voice of a generation, and the chances are many of them would say David Attenborough.

The veteran television presenter and natural historian is one of our best loved public figures; a velvety voice delivering fascinating commentaries on our planet and the animals that inhabit it.

Attenborough is also one of the most prominent voices on climate change and the dangers it poses to the world we live in.

His Netflix series, Our Planet, explores the natural beauty of planet Earth, and explains the impact that climate change is having upon it.

There are some hard hitting scenes in the series, not least of which is this devastating scene featuring a baby flamingo that left some viewers in tears:

[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/aDPi2mY8-sKUnNGKf.mp4||aDPi2mY8]]

During an interview with former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, Attenborough said;

“[Young people] understand the simple discoveries of science about our dependence upon the natural world,” he said. “My generation is no great example for understanding – we have done terrible things."

He said that recent protests and actions taken by young people were “the one big reason I have for feeling we are making progress. If we were not making progress with young people, we are done".

When asked by Figueres about the world his great-grandchildren will live in, Attenborough was emphatic;

“I don’t spend time thinking about that because I can’t bear it.

“I’m just coming up to 93, and so I don’t have many more years around here. I find it difficult to think beyond that because the signs aren’t good.”

Netflix viewers were left completely broken by another particularly harrowing sequence in Our Planet, which sees walruses stranded on a cliff, left confused by a combination of shrinking ice cover and their own poor eyesight.

Unaware of how high up they are, they plummet off the edge of the cliff and fall to their deaths.

You can watch the clip here:

[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/iMOzfPoF-Q0L14jDU.mp4||iMOzfPoF]]

Speaking at the World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF) State of the Planet Address in London, the veteran broadcaster said: "Our Planet will take viewers on a spectacular journey of discovery, showcasing the beauty and fragility of our natural world.

"Today we have become the greatest threat to the health of our home but there's still time for us to address the challenges we've created, if we act now. We need the world to pay attention."

You can watch Our Planet on Netflix now.