I was asked to speak about hope. However, my work revolves around climate change and its impact on Earth throughout human history. Just recently, Hurricane Melissa, significantly strengthened by an abnormally warm Caribbean Sea, struck Jamaica—the island where my family originates—with fierce winds. Therefore, my message is: Disregard hope. What is our actual strategy? What definitive actions will we take so that hope becomes unnecessary?

As a scientist, I can confirm: yes, the situation is dire, and yes, it is a direct consequence of humans burning fossil fuels and forests—a fact scientists universally agree upon. To be explicit, the primary responsibility for this climate crisis rests with fossil fuel and large-scale agriculture executives, their powerful lobbying, and the politicians they control. Yet, each of us also bears some responsibility because we are allowing it to unfold. We continue our daily lives while influential individuals endanger our future.

But here is the promising news—and if you retain only one point from my address tonight, let it be this: We already possess all the solutions we require. We can transition to clean energy immediately—solar panels and wind turbines are already effective and affordable methods for generating electricity. We can safeguard and restore ecosystems now. We can cultivate food sustainably, make our buildings environmentally friendly, and enhance public transportation now. We can align our financial actions with our words now.

There is no elusive magical technology we must await. We are making progress, but we need to accelerate our efforts much faster. The longer we procrastinate, the more challenging and costly it will become.

Now, despite being a co-founder of a policy think tank, Ocean Collectiv, it took me an excessively long time to grasp that cultural transformation typically precedes policy change. This pattern held true for the civil rights movement and for marriage equality. And the individuals in this room are instrumental in shaping culture. You wield immense power to expedite climate action, to inspire your audiences, and to challenge the existing order. You can create romantic comedies and songs centered on climate solutions, design products for a circular economy, and advocate for crucial policies. Please find me at table 6 if you wish to discuss what specific actions you can take. I will personally assist you in identifying how to make the greatest impact.

However, what everyone *definitely* needs to do is talk about climate change. Currently, many people rarely or *never* encounter discussions about climate on the news or social media. And as long as this silence persists, there is no possibility of us resolving this crisis. And do not allow climate deniers to intimidate you—they may be vocal, and too many of them currently hold positions in our government, but they represent only a minority of Americans.

You might believe that climate change is not your concern, but it impacts everything. Whether your priorities include national security and food security, public health and racial justice, robust infrastructure and affordable energy bills, outdoor concerts and sporting events, SCUBA diving on coral reefs, skiing on natural snow, enjoying ice thick enough for ice fishing, savoring chocolate and peaches, drinking wine and coffee, or ensuring your home isn’t engulfed by the ocean, climate is *your* issue.

And if you are already concerned about immigration *now*, consider this: we are poised to witness the most extensive and rapid migration of people in human history—billions of people will be forced to relocate as climate change renders their current homes uninhabitable.

It’s all interconnected. And, as is often the case, those with the fewest resources will suffer the most severe consequences. But even if you possess a bunker in New Zealand, climate change will eventually affect you too. And a mass exodus to Mars is not a viable solution for us all.

If you care about the future *at all*, you must care about nature and translate that care into action.

Utilize your platforms and your votes. Leverage your networks and your financial assets. Where you keep your money actually accounts for a significant portion of your personal carbon footprint—even more than flying. So, divest and reinvest. Call your money manager first thing tomorrow morning and instruct them that you do not want a single dollar of yours funding oil, gas, or coal. Then, shift your investments towards a regenerative economy.

Remember: We already possess the solutions. And it is not an all-or-nothing endeavor. Every tenth of a degree of warming we prevent, every inch of sea-level rise we avoid, every increasingly *unnatural* disaster we avert, every species we save, every piece of nature we protect and restore—it all makes a difference.

Addressing the climate crisis is the defining work of our lifetimes. Therefore, I invite you to join me: Act as if you *love* the future. And be *tenacious* in advocating for life on Earth. Thank you.