equally important, bill has helped pave the way for the gretas and the xiuhtezcatl martinezes and thecountless other young people who are the emerging global climate leaders who have come together as a generation in ways and at scales never seen before. bill is an improbable activist. his temperament is not that of a rabble rouser or agitator. he's the classically reasonable new england professor in the town square, a brilliant but rigorous restrained and acutely precise speaker and thinker, which is exactly why he's so effective. he's too honest, too earnest, too compassionate,pptoo respectful, and way tooppknowledgeable to peddle simple ideologies or 50 simple ways to solve the climate crisis. bill first spoke here at bioneers in 1996,ppand he's returned many timesppsince. it's been an honor and joy to know him and to witness and share his remarkable trajectory. he's authentically modest, and probably uncomfortable with the attention and praise. a solitary stroll through his beloved vermont woods is likely far more appealing. but bill has a mission, and it's our blessing that h