Nicholas Hanley

Head of Communication/Directorate General, Environment – European Commission

Today’s Date: 18 December 2007

1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?

Perhaps my visit to the tropical rain forest in Costa Rica – an almost religious feeling of the total beauty of the place.

2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?

A “wasteland” over a railway tunnel at the bottom of our garden

Now? At the French coastline at Cap Gris Nez, a regional nature park in Northern France

3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is and why?

The Wolf – as a society we have such mixed views about them. They really compete with us but nothing symbolises more the challenge of protecting nature and wilderness – are we civilised enough to leave space for the wolves?

4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?

Climate Change is both the greatest environmental challenge now and will continue to be so. Can our society learn to live within the constraints of nature or continue to believe we can control it all?

5. If you could give one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?

We have to change our practice of consumption – the slogan for our climate campaign sums it up “You Control Climate Change – Turn Down, Switch Off, Walk, Recycle”.


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