January 2023’s Recommended Read is the international best seller ‘A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future’ authored by world renowned David Attenborough.
This book and David Attenborough’s life neatly brings together the intersection of climate action and biodiversity, which at times does not get the attention it deserves. For this reason, this book has been selected as January 2023’s Recommended Read, as reminder to us all. Since the release of the book, the United Nation’s COP27 Climate Change and COP15 Biodiversity has taken place in 2022 but I feel there is more than ever a need to remember how both operate and interconnect.
The Book
The book accompanies the Netflix release by the same name, about Attenborough’s recount of his life spanning seven decades and evolutionary history of life on Earth. The book was originally published in 2020 by Witness Books, which is part of Penguin Random House UK.
Given the pivotal point we are in world in respect of climate change and also biodiversity this book brings both neatly together, with Attenborough’s captivating the audience with a hard-hitting book introduction titled ‘Our Greatest Mistake’. Within the introduction he addresses the war, population growth, climate change and our planet’s loss of biodiversity. Attenborough (2020: 6) outlines:
“For life to truly thrive on this planet, there must be immense biodiversity. Only when billions of different individual organisms make the most of every resource and opportunity they encounter and millions of species lead lives that interlock so that they sustain each other, the more secure will be all life on Earth, including ourselves. Yet the way we humans are now living on Earth is sending biodiversity into decline.”
This statement itself, does not place us humans as the centre of the universe but merely a single species, and if anything, a species, which is taking far more than it has right to.
Within the introduction and through the chapters Attenborough, addresses unsustainable population growth and unsustainable consumption. Quickly and bluntly he addresses, how choices and avenues are not straight forward but critical decisions, we as a human race have to make to protect biodiversity.
The book is organised into parts, visuals are used to illustrate statistics and photo are inserted from Attenborough’s adventures, species in the wild, people/communities has met during his journey to bring the themes live.
The main body of the text is organised organically:
– Part One: ‘My Witness Statement’ – Attenborough’s account, a man aged 96 who has dedicated his life to nature.
– Part Two: ‘What Lies ahead’ – very much a critical, straight up analysis of what is really on the table should we continue the road we are on.
– Part Three: ‘A Vision for the Future: How to Rewild the World’ – The chapter of hope and a chance for change.
– Conclusion: ‘Our Greatest Opportunity’ – bringing us back to the table to ramp up ambition and drive.
Attenborough’s eye-witness account within the book runs from 1954 to recent years, outlining the ‘world population’, ‘carbon in atmosphere’ and ‘remaining wildness’ by numbers and percentage through the decades. This framework allows a reader to see for themselves, statistically how human population and carbon has increased, while the remaining wildness has declined through the decades, bringing us to where we are now with climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. The concept of The Planetary Boundary (p110) is displayed and discussed through a model, taking stock of what is available, thresholds and tipping points. The prediction from 2030 to 2100, decade by decade is outlined, in short, letting us know what is really in store and overall the loss of biodiversity including the extinction of rare species that are vital.
The 2021 release of the book also has a bonus five pages and illustrations from Attenborough’s ‘Why you are here’ speech, his opening speech for the COP26 Climate Change summit in Glasgow on 1st November 2021. Through his speech he is talking one to one on a very deep level and a calling on the human race to take action by discussing inequality, instability and the need for balance on our planet, which is very much now left in our hands.
Overall, the book was an insightful and thought-provoking read, walking through decades, and highly recommended for someone who like to understand more about the biodiversity crisis and climates change.
Availability
The book is available via a range of reputable outlets including Amazon, World of Books and also Audible. The book comes in a range of formats including Kindle, Audio, Paperback and Hardcover. Having read the book and listened to the book through Audible I would highly recommend the Audible version, narrated by David Attenborough. There seems to be something very soothing about listening to Attenborough’s iconic voice.
About the author
David Frederick Attenborough (96), born 8th May 1926 is an English biologist, natural historian, broadcaster and author. Attenborough was born in London and grew up in Leicester, England, where his father was principal of the university. Attenborough early on developed a strong interest in natural history. He was educated at Clare College, Cambridge (M.A., 1947), and began work at an educational publishing house in 1949.
He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, the nine natural history documentaries, which began with Zoo Quest in 1954. While Attenborough’s earlier work focused more on the wonders of the natural world, his later work has been more vocal in support of environmental causes. He has advocated for restoring planetary biodiversity, limiting population growth, tackling climate change as well as setting aside more areas for natural preservation.
