William Shatner makes impassioned climate change plea ahead of COP28 summit: 'We're all going to die'
Shatner blamed 'stupid human beings' for the threat of extinction
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Star Trek" legend William Shatner issued a dire warning to King Charles on Wednesday, urging him to use his voice to warn about the consequences of climate change in his opening speech at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai.
"He’s got to say, ‘We’re all going to die.’ That’s what he should say to open up with. ‘Very quickly, we’re all going to die…'" the star told "Good Morning Britain."
"And then [he needs to] tell us how to avoid it," he added.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}COP28, also known as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, is set to have a multi-day run from Thursday to Dec. 12, with the U.K's King Charles delivering the opening message.
Prominent figures from around the world — including Vice President Kamala Harris — have announced plans to attend.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}William Shatner speaks during a Q&A on the new documentary "William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill" at The New Port Theater in Corona del Mar, California, on Oct. 18. (John Wolfsohn/Getty Images)
Shatner, during his show appearance Wednesday, raved about the importance of life, warning that "stupid human beings" are "extinguishing" it.
"Insects are going extinct. We don’t go around saying, ‘Oh, my God, insects are going.’ Who cares? And we stupid human beings don’t even know they existed in the first place," he said.
When asked if humans are digging their own graves is a dramatic statement, Shatner replied, "It's not dramatic enough… we're burrowing into our own graves."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Looking at North America correspondent Noel Phillips, he continued, "I'm so unhappy that you don't understand how imperative this situation is."
He later warned Phillips, "Your children are going to have difficulty living."
His discussion continued with a warning that humans "can't escape" the effects of climate change, adding, "If we can't escape it, we have to fight it."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}UNITED NATIONS SET TO CALL ON AMERICANS TO REDUCE MEAT CONSUMPTION
King Charles III looks on at a Commonwealth and Nature reception during COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The 92-year-old actor, meanwhile, remains the oldest person ever to travel to space after embarking on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket in 2021. The event preceded Prince William's criticism of space tourism, where he told the BBC people should "be focusing on this [planet]" instead of "heading out into space."
At the time, Shatner responded to the claim in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, saying in part, "He's got the wrong idea here."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I would tell the prince — and I hope the prince gets this message — this is a baby step of getting all those polluting industries off of Earth," he said. "You can build a base 250, 280 miles above the Earth and send that power down here," he continued.
On X, some revived the criticism with their own takes after Shatner's Wednesday appearance on "Good Morning Britain."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The COP28 logo is seen on the opening day of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"He went into space on a joy ride," one wrote.
Another called it "hypocrisy at its finest" while writing of the space trip they alleged was made "for fun."
Shatner, heading off criticism during the interview, discussed the research benefits of going into space, particularly with regard to chemistry and engineering.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Not going up there may stifle research," he said.
Shatner has spoken out about his trip to space multiple times, describing the "grief" he felt. In a book titled "Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder," he wrote that his trip was supposed to be a "celebration," but it instead "felt like a funeral."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FOX News' Nate Day and Brie Stimson contributed to this report.