The ‘alarming’ trip that changed Jeremy Clarkson’s mind on climate change
The Grand Tour presenter had rethink after navigating dried-up waterways in Cambodia
Jeremy Clarkson has revealed he now believes in climate change following a moment of “epiphany” while filming his motoring show in Cambodia.
The former sceptic says he and his The Grand Tour co-stars were confronted by a “graphic demonstration” of global warming as they tried navigate the Mekong river system during a 500-mile boat race from Siem Reap to Vietnam - only to discover that the river had been reduced to a “puddle”.
Clarkson told The Sunday Times that his group’s jet boats were left stranded in “knee-deep” water in Cambodia’s Tonle Sap lake, “so we had two days of absolute frustration - being towed and grounding”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Describing his “genuinely alarming” experience, the former Top Gear presenter continued: “The irony is not lost on me. A man who hosted a car programme for 30 years, limited to 7mph by global warming.”
Clarkson has been targeted by environmental campaigners on multiple occasions in the past over his views on climate change. In 2005, he admitted that “the world is warming up” but claimed it “isn’t even worthy of a shrug”, The Independent reports.
He has also drawn criticism for his comments on 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, whom he recently called a “spoilt brat” in his column for The Sun.
Despite his U-turn on climate change, Clarkson took another shot at Thunberg during his Sunday Times interview, saying that he doesn’t “blame mankind for” the crisis before adding: “We’ll let Greta do that.”
Such digs aside, Clarkson’s global warming awakening is just “the latest leg in the petrolhead’s eco journey”, says the Daily Star. He has also claimed to be carbon-neutral thanks to crops and hedgerows planted on his 1,000-acre Oxfordshire farm, and earlier this year took part in a beach clean-up in Vietnam.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
LGBTQ+ rights in Iraq: how morality laws ramped up
The Explainer Same-sex relationships and gender reassignment surgery are now criminalised in latest attack on targeted community
By The Week UK Published
-
'Trump rarity: Verbal blasts may backfire'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
The underground Mona Lisa and the trouble with tourists
Why Everyone's Talking About Visitors to the Louvre have dubbed the crowded experience 'torture' as famous landmarks suffer from overtourism
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Ottawa climate talks: can global plastic problem be solved?
In the spotlight Nations aim to draft world's first treaty on plastic pollution, but resistance from oil- and gas-producing countries could limit scope
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is rock flour and how can it help to fight climate change?
The Explainer Glacier dust to the rescue
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The growing thirst for camel milk
Under the radar Climate change and health-conscious consumers are pushing demand for nutrient-rich product – and the growth of industrialised farming
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why curbing methane emissions is tricky in fight against climate change
The Explainer Tackling the second most significant contributor to global warming could have an immediate impact
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
How the EU undermines its climate goals with animal farming subsidies
Under the radar Bloc's agricultural policy incentivises carbon-intensive animal farming over growing crops, despite aims to be carbon-neutral
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why are people and elephants fighting in Sri Lanka?
Under The Radar Farmers encroaching into elephant habitats has led to deaths on both sides
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published