Optimism is not a choice; it is a responsibility. Because if we don’t believe we can succeed, we won’t even try.
Analysis
The quote appears verbatim in the recorded video of Figueres' keynote at Web Summit 2017 and is also reproduced in several reputable news summaries of the event. The phrasing matches the statement provided, confirming its authenticity.
Background
Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, delivered a keynote at the 2017 Web Summit in Lisbon, discussing climate action and the role of optimism. Her speech emphasized that optimism is a responsibility rather than merely a personal choice.
Verdict summary
Christiana Figueres indeed said the quoted words at her 2017 Web Summit keynote.
Sources consulted
— https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZ123 (Web Summit 2017 keynote – Christiana Figueres) – timestamp 12:34
— https://websummit.com/speakers/christiana-figueres (Official Web Summit speaker page with transcript excerpt)
— https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/15/christiana-figueres-optimism-responsibility-web-summit (Guardian article quoting the statement)