Rhetorical Analysis of Environmental Activism Speech

Read the following excerpt from a speech delivered by an influential environmental activist. In this passage, the speaker addresses the consequences of climate change and urges immediate action. Your task is to analyze how the speaker uses rhetorical strategies to persuade their audience and highlight the urgency of their message. Consider the effectiveness of their use of evidence, emotional appeals, and rhetorical devices.

Excerpt: 'We stand at a precipice. Each melting ice cap, every fire raging through our forests, is not a distant threat but a call to arms. If we do not act now, we risk not just our planet, but the very fabric of our existence. Children born today will inherit a world of chaos unless we choose to fight for a sustainable future. Climate change is real, it is here, and it is changing the way we live, breathe, and gather together. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we do not pass on a legacy of despair. Action is not a choice; it is an obligation.'