Identifying Emotional Diction in Environmental Speech

Read the following excerpt from a speech addressing the importance of environmental conservation:

"We must act with absolute urgency to revive our planet. The relentless assault on nature has left scars that can no longer be overlooked. Our forests are wilting, our waters are tainted, and the very air we breathe is poisoned. It is imperative to halt this degradation before it engulfs our generations to come."

Which word in the excerpt most strongly influences the emotional appeal the speaker makes?