Jane Goodall has stressed the need for governments to challenge the fossil fuel industry in order to confront the climate crisis.

The noted primatologist and conservationist, who has been in Australia in May and June, made the remarks in an interview with Tim Barlass for the Sydney Morning Herald.

She also singled out the government of Australia, which has been described as being part of "the carbon cartel,"  for its current state of environmental affairs.

The "window of time" left to act on the climate crisis requires individual action, the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace said. But politicians must act as well, and that means "governments standing up to the big corporations, the oil and gas industry," and "putting caps on industrial emission of CO2."

Among the countries that are not taking enough action is Australia, she said, and her message to politicians is straightforward: "Do you really, really not care about the future of your great-grandchildren? If we continue to destroy the world the way we are now, what's the world going to be like for your great-grandchildren?"

On endangered species, the chimp expert said that "Australians need a wake-up call, because if action isn't taken and action isn't taken soon, then these creatures will be gone and they'll be gone forever."

Goodall also spoke about her youth- and community-based Roots and Shoots organization, which she says "is about listening to young people, listening to what they're worried about," and encouraging them to take action, be that ridding an ecosystem of an invasive species or raising funds for earthquake victims. "It's about choosing projects yourself to help people, to help other animals, and to help the environment we all share."

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