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Hello and thanks for downloading Witness history from the BBC World Service. I'm Claire Bowes.

In the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, we're looking back at how the world woke up to the environmental crisis it is facing.

In 1972, the first World Environmental Conference was held.

It didn't concentrate on climate change, but on the

damage that was being done to animals and forests by the encroachment of humans and industry. It also highlighted some of the splits that still

exist between rich and poor nations over who should make the greatest changes to

save the planet. No crisis ever before in history more than the environmental crisis has underlined to such an extent

the interdependence of nations. The crisis of human environment is a global

crisis. It requires therefore global solutions. In 2011 I spoke to Morris Strong, the man who organized the conference.

With all the evidence that we've amassed in our preparations for the Stockholm Conference, including the views of many of the

world's leading scientists, I am convinced that the prophets of doom have got to be taken

serious. In other words, doomsday is a possibility. I'm equally convinced

that doomsday is not inevitable. It has become apparent that today man's own activities

have reached the scale where they are the principal determinants of his

own future.

Morris Strong is an unlikely champion of the environment.

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