Ian McEwan on why humankind 'will scrape through'

He said: "I've really noticed, over the last 20 years, that although we are deeply worried about climate change - and it doesn't seem to be getting better at the moment - that across the world, there are just hundreds of pinpoints of light, of little projects of re-wilding, of all kinds of biological movements that are really very hopeful."

He added that "the power with which nature comes back astounds biologists", stressing how "extraordinary resilient" animals, fish, sea life and plants are "if you just stop doing bad things to them."

It is about "finding that balance", he continued, noting how many people still rely on animals and fish for food.

"So I think human civilization has an element of that too, and we will scrape through."

He also expressed concerns as well as a little "weariness", when asked, about censorship, specifically with reference to comedy writer Graham Linehan's recent arrest for comments made online about trans people.

The Father Ted co-creator was arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to his posts on X.

Linehan said he was met by five armed officers, sparking a backlash from some public figures and politicians, and inflaming a fierce debate about policing and free speech.

McEwan told Radio 4 he would "expect questions" if an alleged physical threat had been made, but that armed police officers "seems a bit heavy-handed".

The Booker-winning novelist has previously expressed his opposition to "sensitivity readers", the practice of hiring someone to read a manuscript before its publication in order to point out things that might be offensive to readers.