Sir David Attenborough: The statistics showing that the earth is warming come from a great variety of sources. If one set of statistics are shown to be in error it does not affect the overall consensus. I know of no proof that contradicts the overall trend that the planet is warming and that this warming is human-led.

Sir David Attenborough: To be certain of a trend you must know statistics extending over many years. When it was first suggested that this trend existed we did not have a long enough time perspective to be certain. Now we have.

Sir David Attenborough: I have been shocked by trying to visit areas of rainforest I knew well in Borneo to find them replaced by a mono-culture of oil palms. Largely devoid of the many species of birds and mammals that I knew once lived there. But the most appalling threat to my mind is the loss of coral reef communities which now threaten us.

Sir David Attenborough: Most species of coral are extremely sensitive to temperature and a rise or fall in the average of only one or two degrees can be lethal, whether in the tropics or in our temperate regions.

Sir David Attenborough: Our planet has experienced great climatic changes but in comparison with what we have been experiencing ourselves they have been relatively gradual. In consequence, populations of animals and plants have been able to migrate in response. Now, however, not only are the changes proceeding very swiftly, but much of the territory which once would have been available to them has now been taken by humanity, so there is no possibility for those species to move gradually in any one direction.

Sir David Attenborough: That indeed is a real problem. There are many diseases that in any case we do not have a natural resistance to and so it may be that we will have to use anti-malarials in the same way as people in the tropics have to do.

Sir David Attenborough: It is certainly the case that there are some species more likely to survive climate change than ourselves.

Sir David Attenborough: Thank you very much. I am delighted that you have found the programmes interesting and relevant.

Sir David Attenborough: A sloth!