Jane Goodall: ‘We must let local wisdom and science be our guides’

Not long ago, I stood with Inuit elders on the ice fields of Greenland, watching sheets of ancient ice crack and cascade into the sea. They told me these cliffs once stood firm year-round but now the melt comes earlier, faster, more violently. From the Arctic to the Amazon, Indigenous communities are witnessing profound shifts in the natural world, changes that mirror what science has long warned – our planetary systems are unravelling.

Today, however, science itself is under siege. In the US, the current administration has intensified efforts to defund research, fire scientists and suppress findings that do not align with their political outlook and policies. These are not simply bureaucratic moves, they are acts that imperil the health, safety and future of generations to come.

Suppressing science in the face of a planetary emergency is akin to smashing the navigational instruments while flying blind through a storm.  When we ignore the intertwined wisdom of modern science and Indigenous peoples’ knowledge, we lose the chance to chart a path toward harmony with our planet. To those who hesitate to act, I gently ask: what if caring for our planet is not merely an environmental concern but the very foundation of our survival?

Our existence depends on facing truth, even when it is inconvenient. Planetary Guardians is a global alliance of scientists, Indigenous leaders and public figures who are working to elevate this truth. We are not political actors. We are protectors of a simple idea: that you cannot negotiate with physics. We must fund science, not silence it. We must learn from Indigenous stewards who have safeguarded ecosystems for millennia.

I still believe in the power of human goodness, so let’s not lose hope. Let’s remember that courage often begins with one voice speaking truth. And let’s ensure that the voices of science and wisdom are not drowned out but amplified.