We were born in an age of opportunity. Across the globe, people of this generation have grown up with the knowledge that they are increasingly connected to the rest of the world. With connectivity comes the power for one generation to completely alter the world they live in. Together, we can harness the power of the wind for electricity, the smarts of artificial intelligence for knowledge, and most importantly, we can look within ourselves for that one quality that will, in the end, make all the difference.

As we glance over our shoulders at what humanity has accomplished in the last decade, we must stand in awe of the magical powers possessed in our very hands - human ingenuity and perseverance. We have withstood the worst epidemics nature has thrown at us, accelerated communication a hundredfold, and discovered cures for previously "incurable" diseases. In short, there are few things humanity cannot achieve when we are determined. However, war and famine still persist in some parts of today's world, and the specter of a global catastrophe looms on the horizon.

Divided, this generation, or any generation, will not realize the unbounded hopes and aspirations we seek, but will instead use their awesome and terrible potential against themselves, for destruction rather than construction, for evil rather than good. Today, we carry the beacon of hope to these dark and troubled areas of the globe. We can leave behind the enmities and destructive burdens that have driven our forefathers to war, and instead focus on the pursuit of peace and equal opportunity.

There are many things that demand our attention, and even more that require our collective action. Climate change is impacting all of Earth's children, from Beijing to Washington, from Jakarta to Johannesburg - we are all in this together. This generation is the first to experience the substantial real-world effects of this phenomenon, from extreme heat to intensive flooding and rising sea levels. We will also bear the brunt of future adaptation pressures as we grow up. Together, we can and must reduce worldwide emissions in a timely manner, protecting the rights of all people in the process.

We belong to the future, and so the future belongs to us. Let us join together in a union for peace and prosperity.