Dr Jane Goodall said the practice of climate activists blocking roads was counterproductive. AFP
Dr Jane Goodall said the practice of climate activists blocking roads was counterproductive. AFP
Dr Jane Goodall said the practice of climate activists blocking roads was counterproductive. AFP
Dr Jane Goodall said the practice of climate activists blocking roads was counterproductive. AFP

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Jane Goodall warns activists 'blocking roads won't save the planet'

Renowned conservationist urges people to take positive action rather than disrupting everyday lives

Marwa Hassan
Marwa Hassan

April 27, 2023

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Prominent primatologist Dame Jane Goodall on Thursday called for action to protect the planet in an interview with BBC Radio 4 but said activist groups blockading cities and motorways will not help the environment.

Dr Goodall, 88, said the devastating effects of climate change could lead to mass extinction.

“I'm still travelling frantically around the world because if everybody loses hope they will do nothing because they feel helpless,” she said, warning that time is running out to put things right before the planet heats up irrevocably.

She urged people to take action by reducing their reliance on fossil fuels, investing in renewable energy and changing their diet to eat less meat and more plant-based foods.

The renowned conservationist also stressed the importance of protecting endangered species such as chimpanzees.

Dr Goodall has inspired millions of people to take action to protect the planet.

Her passion for saving animals and the environment has even led to the creation of a new TV series for children, Jane's Animal Adventures, which encourages children to join the Roots and Shoots programme.

The project is aimed at empowering children to pioneer change in their communities.

“I think it's going to be a huge hit with children,” Dr Goodall said of Roots and Shoots

“I think children absolutely love that kind of mixture of reality with these, you know, wild journeys through space and animals coming to life."

She encouraged children to take action in their own neighbourhoods to make a difference, highlighting the success story of saving the black robin from extinction in New Zealand.

While supporting direct action to combat climate change, Dame Jane Goodall cautions against disruptive protests that block roads, arguing that they can be counterproductive and turn people against the cause. Getty Images
While supporting direct action to combat climate change, Dame Jane Goodall cautions against disruptive protests that block roads, arguing that they can be counterproductive and turn people against the cause. Getty Images

In response to a question about direct action protests, Dr Goodall argued that activists should not block roads and disrupt people's everyday lives.

“I'd like to see more direct action but not the kind that … blocking traffic for miles and miles along the high road of ordinary people trying to get home to cook supper or be with their children. That is counterproductive, I think,” she said.

She believes everyone can make a difference and the focus should be on positive action to inspire others and raise money to help endangered species.

Despite being nearly 90, Dr Goodall still spends 300 days a year travelling the world, inspiring others to address environmental issues.

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Updated: April 27, 2023, 1:51 PM
Renewable energyClimate change