And as my good friend and adviser Amory Lovins says , " If something exists , it must be possible . "


( Laughter ) If we can actually do it , it must be possible .


If we , a petro-intensive company can do it , anybody can .


And if anybody can , it follows that everybody can .


Hawken fulfilled business and industry , leading humankind away from the abyss because , with continued unchecked decline of the biosphere , a very dear person is at risk here — frankly , an unacceptable risk .


Who is that person ?


Not you . Not I.


But let me introduce you to the one who is most at risk here .


And I myself met this person in the early days of this mountain climb .


On a Tuesday morning in March of 1996 , I was talking to people , as I did at every opportunity back then , bringing them along and often not knowing whether I was connecting .


But about five days later back in Atlanta , I received an email from Glenn Thomas , one of my people in the California meeting .


He was sending me an original poem that he had composed after our Tuesday morning together .


And when I read it it was one of the most uplifting moments of my life .


Because it told me , by God , one person got it .


Here is what Glenn wrote . And here is that person , most at risk .


Please meet " " Tomorrow 's Child . " " " " Without a name , an unseen face , and knowing not your time or place , Tomorrow 's child , though yet unborn , I met you first last Tuesday morn .


A wise friend introduced us two .


And through his sobering point of view I saw a day that you would see , a day for you but not for me .


Knowing you has changed my thinking .


For I never had an inkling that perhaps the things I do might someday , somehow threaten you .


Tomorrow 's child , my daughter , son , I 'm afraid I 've just begun to think of you and of your good , though always having known I should .


Begin , I will .


The way the cost of what I squander , what is lost , if ever I forget that you will someday come and live here too . " " Well , every day of my life since , " " Tomorrow 's Child " " has spoken to me with one simple but profound message , which I presume to share with you .


We are , each and every one , a part of the web of life .


The continuum of humanity , sure , but in a larger sense , the web of life itself .


And we have a choice to make during our brief , brief visit to this beautiful blue and green living planet : to hurt it or to help it .


For you , it 's your call .


Thank you .


( Applause )