"I have never done it before, even for our own elections."
Legendary broadcaster Sir David Attenborough 'punched the air' when Donald Trump was defeated by Joe Biden in the US presidential election.
Attenborough said it is the first time he's ever cheered the result of an election - including those conducted in the UK.
The 94-year-old explained the reasoning behind his joy in an interview with
The Daily Mirror. He believes the impact America has on climate policy makes their political appointments a global issue.
"America is the most powerful country in the world, economically, and has a huge influence on what happens.
"That someone should be coming into power who recognises the importance of the ecological problems that face us – whose first statement after it became clear he was going to become the President-Elect was to reinstate America's backing of the Paris Agreement...
"I can't remember getting out of my seat and cheering all by myself until that moment. I have never done it before, even for our own elections."
The Mirror report that Attenborough got out of his seat during the interview, subsequently jumping up to punch the air.
[caption id="attachment_259280" align="alignnone" width="2048"]
Sir David Attenborough's new BBC series A Perfect Planet airs in the new year. Finally, something to look forward to. (Photo: Getty)[/caption]
Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated on January 20th. He has already announced his intention to take America back into the Paris Climate Accord.
This agreement brought together almost 200 nations in a pact aimed to tackle the severe global impact of climate change. The USA is the world's second largest emitter of greenhouse gasses.
Attenborough's new BBC series A Perfect Planet airs in the new year, and explores issues related to biodiversity and natural history.
The series' last episode will provide a stark warning regarding the impact of man-made damage to the Earth's climate.
Sir David Attenborough also said he plans to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available.
He said: "I'm sufficient of a scientist still, I hope, to realise this is the thing to do."
