Jane Goodall Warns of Looming environmental Disaster in Final BBC Interview, Days Before Death at 91
World-renowned primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall issued a stark warning about the planetS environmental future in a final interview with the BBC, just weeks before her death at the age of 91. Goodall, who dedicated her life to understanding chimpanzees and advocating for environmental protection, stressed the urgent need for “tough regulations” to combat deforestation, industrial farming, and reliance on fossil fuels, stating that without immediate action, “the future ultimately is doomed.”
The interview, conducted in November 2024 during Goodall’s ongoing speaking tour – which included stops in Berlin, Geneva, and Paris – underscored her unwavering commitment to conservation even as she acknowledged feeling “a little bit tired.” Goodall’s decades-long work revealed the intelligence and emotional complexity of chimpanzees, revolutionizing primatology and inspiring generations of scientists and activists. Her final message to the BBC serves as a poignant call to action as the world mourns her loss and confronts the escalating environmental crisis she so passionately fought to avert.
BBC presenter Victoria Gill described Goodall as exuding “serenity” despite a “slightly blurry video call,” noting her signature shawl and silver hair. Goodall highlighted the critical importance of forest restoration, revealing she had personally overseen the planting of almost two million trees in the preceding five years.
She emphasized that trees must reach a certain size to effectively contribute to environmental health and warned of the devastating impact of deforestation on the climate and biodiversity. “the more we can do to restore nature and protect existing forests, the better,” she said. Goodall’s warning came as she observed what she termed the “sixth great extinction” unfolding globally.
