From a kitten named “Attie” to generations of young people inspired to love and protect the natural world, Sir David Attenborough continues to inspire hope, climate action, and a deeper connection to nature.
May 8, 2026
VANCOUVER — My daughter adopted a tiny kitten today and named him Sir David Attenborough, “Attie” for short. It felt especially fitting on Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday — made even more serendipitous by the fact that my daughter had no idea I was writing a tribute to him when she chose the name!
No one in history has changed humanity’s relationship with the natural world the way Sir David Attenborough has. For generations, his voice has guided us through forests, oceans, deserts, and the intricate web of life that connects us all.
I introduced my children to David Attenborough documentaries when they were young. His spirit of wonder, adventure, and compassion for all living things inspired us deeply. His storytelling did more than educate us — it taught us to care.
Because of that inspiration, and witnessing my children’s love of nature, I launched a children’s environmental education charity that began with the planting of a single seedling with my children on Bowen Island, our tiny island home off the Pacific coast of Vancouver.
20 Years of Growing Hope on TikTok
What started as one small act of hope has since grown into environmental education initiatives across Canada, while also supporting environmental education programs in Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Mongolia and Nepal.
Today, I serve as a mentor with Nature Canada’s Women for Nature initiative and as an advisor to the UNICEF Leading Minds Fellowship on Climate Education (LMCEF), a multi-year initiative focused on accelerating systemic change in climate education by empowering young leaders and advancing climate advocacy globally.
Another unforgettable moment was attending the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021 as a UN climate observer. Sir David addressed world leaders with a powerful message of hope and urgency, which left a profound impact on me. He reminded the world that while the climate crisis is critical, humanity still has the power to fix it if we work together.
One line from his speech has stayed with me ever since:
“We need to not just talk about what we can do, but to do what we can.” — Sir David Attenborough
That message continues to shape my work, my writing, and my hope for future generations.
This year, The ChariTree Foundation turns 20 — a reminder that even the smallest seedling, when planted with hope, can grow into something far greater than we imagine.
Sir David’s calm and compelling storytelling also inspired me to become a children’s environmental author, writing both fiction and non-fiction to introduce children to the wonders of nature while giving them hope, agency, and a deeper connection to the living world around them. My books include The Wish Trees (2021) and Don’t Let Ned Plant a Tree THERE! (May 2026).
I feel incredibly grateful to live on this planet at the same time as Sir David Attenborough. His voice, wisdom, and determination to honour and protect nature will forever be etched into Earth’s history as one of humanity’s greatest advocates for nature and future generations. At 100, his voice of compassion and hope for all life continues to inspire the world.
Thank you, Sir David, for inspiring so many of us to love and honour this beautiful planet.
With heartfelt gratitude to Sir David Attenborough always.
Andrea Koehle Jones
Founder, The ChariTree Foundation | Environmental Children’s Book Author | Climate Education Advocate | Co-Founder, The FirstLine Foundation
