Sir David Attenborough – UN Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award
We are delighted to hear the announcement by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) that our Patron, Sir David Attenborough is the recipient of the prestigious “Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award”.
As a trustee and supporter of Learning through Landscapes since our inception, Sir David and his family are closely associated with education. This, combined with his passion for the natural world, makes him a powerful advocate to reconnect young people with the natural world.
In 2001, when he became LtL Patron, Sir David wrote to schools as part of the ‘Sir David Attenborough’s Wildlife Safari’ project. He wrote:
“I would like to tell you about an exciting new project which will open your children’s eyes to the wonders of wildlife that surround your school. The value to children of exploring the natural world that surrounds them cannot be overestimated.”
Sir David’s support for LtL and our work in education has been unwavering since then, and we warmly welcome the news of this Award.
UNEP chief Inger Anderson, in congratulating Sir David, said:
“Sir David Attenborough has devoted his life to documenting the love story between humans and nature, and broadcasting it to the world. If we stand a chance of averting climate and biodiversity breakdowns and cleaning up polluted ecosystems, it’s because millions of us fell in love with the planet that he showed us on television.”
Carley Sefton, CEO of Learning through Landscapes welcomed the news by saying:
“I, like so many, have been enthralled and inspired by Sir David’s programmes. But it is the fact that he has worked tirelessly for over 30 years, to engage children in environmental education through the work of LtL, which stands out for me.
He is truly an inspiration and is deeply deserving of such a high award.”
Read more at https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1116682
Some images of the work Sir David has done for us:
