When Harrison Ford speaks during his commencement speech at Arizona State University and says,” Go change the world,” Ford calls for action on climate change.
On May 11, 2026, Harrison Ford and Howard G. Buffett, both philanthropists, delivered the commencement address at Arizona State University ( ASU). Both received honorable degrees in Humane Letters and Doctor of Arts. The actor was honored for his charitable service, conservation efforts, and cultural impact.
The actor’s speech highlighted his more than 30 years of volunteer work for Conservation International. Ford even made a personal reflection on his life, stating that he had struggles in college before discovering acting through a drama class.  ,
” I had often seen myself as shy, but hiding in character, costume, and makeup, I had a freedom, a bravery I had never felt before,” Ford said.
Before eventually landing a role in” Star Wars,” Ford worked as a carpenter to support himself.
He explained the distinction between passion and purpose, claiming that while acting gave him joy, conservation helped him find his purpose and gave his life a deeper meaning.
Ford calls for promoting biodiversity and climate change.
Ford asserted in his speech that the healthy ecosystems that support life-supporting air, water, and food are a threat to human survival. He emphasized the need to preserve oceans, wetlands, and carbon-rich forests to halt global warming.  ,
By 2030, we must protect 30 % of the world’s land and seas to stop mass extinction and stop the planet from warming, according to Ford.
He claimed that the loss of biodiversity is a threat because people rely heavily on good ecosystems to survive.
Humans won’t survive if nature isn’t kept good, according to the saying. It’s as easy as that,” he said.
A good, healthy world offers services for free. We can provide free services to humanity that we cannot provide for ourselves,” Ford said. He claimed that perhaps a small percentage of crucial ecosystems can be preserved to protect wildlife and stabilize climate systems.  ,
The trees, the mountain, water, and soil are no commodities, Ford claimed. They must be valued as relatives.
People need nature, Ford has said it before and always.
He claimed that ecosystems are necessary for civilization, certainly an additional form of environmentalism.  ,
Ford concluded by urging graduates to use their talents to effect change, noting that” Your generation has much more power than you may realize… Don’t wait.” When the chance arises, take action to alter the world, Ford said.
Ford attended Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin, but did not earn a degree from Arizona State University.
