This morning, President Obama addressed the UN General Assembly in New York, saying that it was time to “embrace a new era of engagement based on mutual interests and mutual respect.”

He noted that over the past nine months, the US has tried to lead by example on issues of national security, climate change and food security. But he said that this was just the beginning—and the U.S. couldn’t go it alone. He said that it was time for leaders from across the globe to “take their share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.” He noted that the UN was founded on the belief that nations could work together to solve global issues, but that too often, it became a place to play politics and air grievances. Leaders gathered there today could either be remembered as the generation that put off hard choices and defined themselves by their differences, or the generation that worked together to build on common interests.

President Obama then laid out four pillars to achieving this future. The first was non-proliferation and disarmament. The second was the pursuit of peace and security, both by targeting violent extremists and strengthening peacekeeping efforts. He noted in particular the importance of securing peace in Darfur. The third pillar was the preservation of the planet. He noted that the dangers of climate change could no longer be ignored—land will disappear, wars will erupt over resources and “development will be devastated by drought and famine.” President Obama said the U.S. would press ahead with deep emission cuts and would share new technologies with countries around the world. And while the wealthy nations must take the lead, he noted that “any effort that fails to help the poorest nations both adapt to the problems that climate change has already wrought–and travel a path of clean development—will not work.

The final pillar was a global economy that promotes opportunities for everyone. As President Obama noted:

At a time of such interdependence, we have a moral and pragmatic interest in broader questions of development. And so we will continue our historic effort to help people feed themselves. We have set aside $63 billion to carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS; to end deaths from tuberculosis and malaria; to eradicate polio; and to strengthen public health systems. We are joining with other countries to contribute H1N1 vaccines to the World Health Organization. We will integrate more economies into a system of global trade. We will support the Millennium Development Goals, and approach next year’s Summit with a global plan to make them a reality. And we will set our sights on the eradication of extreme poverty in our time.

-Kara Arsenault