And amazingly, a number of that same trees still survive here today. they seem to be a bit gnarled and hollowed-out, but they're still considered alive. We've explored every a part of the world, sequenced the human genome and even escaped Earth's atmosphere.Over my grandmother's lifetime, the last 90 years approximately, our impacts accelerated so fast that our climate, oceans, air, nature and everyone that depends on them are in peril. This oak has stood here for hundreds of years, but never has it faced a decade like this. We start this new decade knowing that it's the foremost consequential period in history. The science is irrefutable.
If we don't act during this decade, the damage that we've done is going to be irreversible. and therefore the effects felt not just by future generations but by all folks alive today. And what's more, this damage won't be felt equally by everyone. it's the foremost vulnerable, those with the fewest resources and people who've done the smallest amount to cause global climate change who are going to be impacted the foremost.
These stark facts are terrifying. How can we hope to repair such massive intractable problems? it's going to seem overwhelming, but it's possible. Humans have an unprecedented capacity to line goals and strive to realize them. I've long been inspired by President John F. Kennedy's 1961 mission to place a person on the moon within a decade. He named it the Moonshot.
It seemed crazy. We'd barely launched the primary satellite. Putting a person on the moon that quickly seemed impossible. But this easy challenge encompassed such a lot. He called it a goal to arrange and measure the simplest of our energies and skills. In taking that big leap for mankind, the team behind the Moonshot united many people around the world -- that this crazy ambition wasn't so crazy in any case. But now, instead of a Moonshot for this decade, we'd like Earth shots. We must harness that very same spirit of human ingenuity and purpose and switch it with laser-sharp focus and urgency on the foremost pressing challenge we've ever faced, repairing our planet. The shared goals for our generation are clear. Together, we must protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste-free world and fix our climate. and that we must strive to try to all of this during a decade.
If we achieve these goals, by 2030 our lives won't be worse, and that we won't need to sacrifice everything we enjoy. Instead, the way we live is going to be healthier, cleaner, smarter and better for all folks. the worldwide response to the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore the funds flowing into the economic recovery demonstrates what proportion is often achieved when those in positions of power close and choose to act. We built hospitals overnight, repurposed factories poured billions into the look for a vaccine and better treatments. And we've been inspired by heroes emerging every community across the planet. children do not believe that change is just too difficult. They witnessed the planet activate its head.
They Believe That The Climate Crisis And Therefore The Threat To Our Biodiversity Deserve Our Full Attention And Ambition. and they are right. So now's the time for every one among us to point out leadership. Whether you are a farmer within the US, a tech owner in China, an official in Kenya, a banker in Britain, a fisherman within the Maldives, a community leader in Brazil or a student in India, every single one among us features a role to play in harnessing whatever opportunity we've. I'm committed to using the unique position that I even have to assist set those Earth shot goals and reward people across every sector of society and in every a part of the planet who do their bit to assist achieve them.
Some people are motivated to act by a crisis, except for many, the motivation to act only comes once they believe that change is feasible, that it is not a campaign. If people believe that these challenges, these Earth shots, are possible, just imagine all the potential we'll unleash. I'm determined to both start and end this decade as an optimist. Whilst our generation represents just a blip within the lifetime of those magnificent oaks, we have the facility and potential to make sure that they and every on living on earth thrives for an additional thousand years and more. But as long as we now unleash the best talents of our generation to repair our planet. we've no choice but to succeed. Thank you.
