The Times/Roya Nikkhah: Green Queen joins with David Attenborough to tame climate

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Monday April 9 2018
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Green Queen joins with David Attenborough to tame climate
Roya Nikkhah, Royal Correspondent

April 8 2018, 12:01am, The Sunday Times
David Attenborough and the Queen in a scene from the new documentary
David Attenborough and the Queen in a scene from the new documentary
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In his latest television spectacular Sir David Attenborough encounters an exotic species living in a unique environment. The 91-year-old broadcaster was visiting Buckingham Palace to interview the Queen.

In a striking change from his celebrated studies of meerkats, albatrosses and whales, Attenborough provides an intriguing glimpse of a controversial issue that turns out to be close to the Queen’s heart.

In an hour-long programme to be broadcast on ITV1 on April 16, the Queen, who is also 91, unveils her ambitious plans for a global environmental project to plant and protect forests in Commonwealth countries in the hope of reversing the impact of climate change.

It is thought to be the first time the Queen has publicly acknowledged the issue of climate change and her plans for the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy leave no doubt of her concern.

The project aims to create a network of forest conservation initiatives across all 53 Commonwealth countries.

“It might change the climate again,” she tells Attenborough, who says the plan would be “a wonderful legacy”. Their sprightly nonagenarian discussion will feature in a new documentary, The Queen’s Green Planet.

While the Queen’s remarks are unlikely to upset many in the Commonwealth, they are potentially at odds with the views of President Donald Trump, who may or may not turn up for a state visit to the UK later this year.

The American president has declared climate change to be “a hoax” and has pulled his country out of the 2015 Paris climate accord. The Prince of Wales, a lifelong conservation campaigner, delivered the keynote speech at the UN conference that produced the accord.

So far, 35 countries have committed to the canopy project with a further nine expected to sign up shortly. The initiative will be high on the agenda at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting which the Queen will host in London this month.

Attenborough’s programme also provides a rare glimpse into the Queen’s sense of humour. They share several jokes and in one scene they giggle as she points to an ailing tree in her grounds: “That one we won’t look at. Somebody sat on it, I think at a garden party.”

In another scene the Queen defends the “harmless” children’s game of conkers against excessive health and safety precautions.

Attenborough said: “There were quite a few funny bits that were cut out. We had some very amusing exchanges.”

Angelina Jolie, the US actress and campaigner, also features in the documentary paying tribute to the Queen: “She’s this really lovely lady who really cares about the future.”

It is thought Jolie may attend the Commonwealth meeting to show her support for the forest project.

@royanikkhah

    Animals
    Television
    Celebrity
    Donald Trump
    Queen Elizabeth

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