Last night, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, award-winning singer and co-founder of CHIME FOR CHANGE, wrapped her arms around the world with a message of hope.
Read More: Beyoncé Visited Her Childhood Church in Houston to Help Harvey Victims
In the wake of natural disasters in India, Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, and the United States, Beyoncé spoke out about climate change.
Watch: Beyoncé's heartfelt message on natural disasters & climate change. #HandInHandpic.twitter.com/B0McFh21Dt
— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@Bey_Legion) September 13, 2017
Beyoncé delivered her powerful video address during the ‘Hand in Hand’ Telethon, a fundraiser organized to raise money for the relief efforts taking place across the Gulf Coast and Caribbean Islands affected by recent hurricanes.
Overall the event raised over $44 million over two days. All of the proceeds from the telethon will be distributed between aid organizations like Rebuild Texas Fund, Feeding Texas, Habitat for Humanity and United Way of Greater Houston. More organizations will be added to the list as needs are evaluated, according to the telethon’s website.
More than 70 people died in the wake of hurricane Harvey, and upwards of 20 people have been reported dead as Irma continues to wreak havoc on Florida.
Beyoncé was joined at the event by more than 100 other celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Drake, Lupita Nyong’o, and Jimmy Fallon.
Though the singer’s speech focused mainly on the impact of the hurricane and the need for donations and aid, she also drew clear links between climate change and the string of disasters around the globe.
"The effects of climate change are playing out around the world everyday,” she said. “We have to be prepared for what comes next."
Read More: 11 Ways You Can Help Victims of Hurricane Harvey Right Now
Beyond sounding off a call to action, Beyoncé’s words urged viewers to come together in a spirit of community undivided by race, religion, or any other social boundaries.
"Natural disasters don't discriminate. They don't see if you're an immigrant, Black or White, Hispanic or Asian, Jewish or Muslim, wealthy, or poor," she said. "We're all in this together."
Global Citizen campaigns on the Global Goals, and climate action is number 13. To take action on this issue, click here.