Prince William interviews Sir David Attenborough at Davos: Broadcaster warns of destroying whole ecosystems in discussion on life's work

Sir David Attenborough today issued a stark warning on the future of the natural world during an interview with Prince William on the first day of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Blue Planet broadcaster warned that humans are "destroying the natural world and with it ourselves" as he urged people to care for and respect the planet.

Speaking in Switzerland, Sir David said humans are now capable of "exterminating whole ecosystems without noticing".

He was interviewed by the Duke of Cambridge live on stage about the veteran broadcaster's six decades of work and the environmental challenges ahead for the planet.

The duke described the event as a "personal treat" as he began the interview on Tuesday.

Asked about how great the threat of climate change is, Sir David said: "It’s difficult to overstate it, we are now so numerous, so powerful, so all-pervasive the mechanisms we have for destruction are so frightening that we can exterminate whole eco-systems without noticing it.

"We have to recognise that every breath of air we take, every mouthful of food we take, comes from the natural world."

He added: "We are one coherent system, it’s not a question of beauty or interest or wonder, an essential part of human life is a healthy planet.

"We are in the danger of wrecking that. We are destroying the natural world and with it ourselves."

William talked to Sir David about his decades of work highlighting the importance of the natural world during the live interview.

The duke said: "It's a personal treat for me to be sitting here you asking questions.

"Normally I have to endure people asking me questions so it's quite nice to be turning the tables for once."

William discussed the veteran broadcaster's six decades of work and described Sir David's programmes as being "seen be literally billions of people world-wide".

"We can create a world with clean air and water, unlimited energy and fish stocks that will sustain us well into the future," Sir David said in Davos.

"But to do that, we need a plan. What we do now and in the next few years will profoundly affect the next few thousand years."

On Monday, Sir David was given a Crystal Award for his leadership in environmental stewardship at the WEF, and used his acceptance speech to call for a plan to tackle environmental problems.

William has previously described the Blue Planet and Dynasties narrator as having "the single most important impact in my conservation thinking".

The duke has met Sir David many times, and invited him to Kensington Palace just last week ahead of their on-stage conversation in Davos.

William, in a BBC tribute programme marking the world-famous broadcaster's 90th birthday in 2016, called him a "national treasure".

He added: "I used to love, and I still do, but when I was a young boy, used to love turning on the television and watching David's programmes and really feeling like I was back out in Africa or I was learning about something magical and almost out of this planet."

William said: "There is something very calming and sort of warm about his programmes.

"There is something very reassuring about seeing David Attenborough on BBC One doing his documentaries. It is part of the national psyche now."

The duke, who is patron of the Tusk conservation charity, has himself warned that the clock is ticking towards a tipping point when our impact on the environment will be irreversible.

He previously voiced concern that the African elephant would have disappeared from the wild by the time his daughter Princess Charlotte turns 25.