Sir David Attenborough slams Scott Morrison for prioritising coal over climate change 

Sir David Attenborough has slammed Prime Minister Scott Morrison, claiming the Australian leader needs to do more to fight climate change.

The leading natural historian criticised Australian politicians for a perceived lack of action on global warming during a speech to a UK parliamentary committee in July, and echoed those calls during an interview with Triple J’s Hack programme.

Sir David criticised what he claimed were the hypocritical actions of the Australian government in publicly acknowledging climate change without being prepared to lessen the use of coal.

‘Do you think it’s right that we go on destroying the natural world?’ he said. 

Australia exported $54billion worth of coal in 2016-17, and the industry employs 47,000 people, according to the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

Leading natural historian and climate crusader Sir David Attenborough (left) has taken a swipe at Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) over coal industry

In the 2018-2019 financial year it was estimated coal exports reached $67billion. 

‘Australia, it seemed to me, was saying all the right things… and you are keepers of an extraordinary section of the surface of this planet, including the Barrier Reef,’ Sir David said.

‘And when you’ve been upstanding and talking what I see is the truth, about what we’re doing to the natural world, and then you suddenly say, ”No, it doesn’t matter how much coal we burn”… what do you say?’

Sir David said he didn’t think Mr Morrison was joking as he claimed when he brought a lump of coal into Parliament in 2017. 

‘If you weren’t opening a coal mine, I would agree it was a joke – but you are opening a coal mine,’ he said.

Sir David also said he supported the Global Climate Strike that saw young people skip school and work to take to the streets and demand more be done to limit the effects of climate change.

In July, Sir David singled out Australia for climate change scepticism during an impassioned speech to the UK Parliament’s British, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee.

‘I am sorry that there are people who are in power… notably of course the United States but also in Australia – which is extraordinary because Australia is already facing having to deal with some of the most extreme manifestations of climate change,’ he said.

The conservationist also said he didn’t believe the then-Treasurer’s move of bringing a lump of coal to Question Time in 2017 was a joke as he won the most recent federal election with the idea he would support new coal mines

‘Both Australia and America – those voices are clearly heard – and one hopes that the electorate will actually respond to those.’

He said politicians and those in power ‘cannot be radical enough’ when dealing with climate change and environmental issues.

He also credited young people for bringing about change, saying the electorate of tomorrow already understand the changes that need to be made.

‘It’s very, very important that voices of dissent should have a place where they’re heard and the arguments between the two sides can be worked out in public, and compared and analysed in public, that’s very important.’

Sir Attenborough said the deterioration of the Great Barrier Reef shows how ‘desperately tragic’ climate change can be