"I have children and I hope to have grandchildren and this is all going to play out after I'm gone." Coming from Rex Tillerson, the chairman and chief executive of the world's leading oil company Exxon, this quote captures a blend of frankness and maturity that is hard to find in most arenas of global discussion.
Every year the World Economic Forum in Davos gathers leading actors on the world stage including business people, religious and political leaders, thinkers, scientists and prominent media figures. Last week its 2007 forum meeting highlighted problems that have not gone away: as its population and economic output continues growing, the chance of a severe and adverse change in the world's climate is perhaps the most daunting of these. Along with other oil barons attending the forum, Mr Tillerson pointed out that oil companies are not responsible for the growth in world demand for oil.
Conflict between nations has arisen often from scarce resources. Preserving world peace in this century will require pooling the best brains the world has to offer if the challenge of oil scarcity is to be resolved. That many of them meet regularly to discuss these issues in relaxed conditions is a useful start. Some exchanges at the forum gave a hint of things to come: having heard criticism of China's air pollution record, one of that country's representatives noted how in the United States less than 5 per cent of the world's population consumes over one fifth of its energy. On the issue of energy, as with others, the forum builds bridges of understanding and friendship between those who may some day find themselves on opposite sides of this question.
Davos is also good for Ireland. Of the 10 panellists in one session on Africa, two - Bono and Reuters chief Niall FitzGerald - were Irish. Alone among the continents of the world, Africa has yet to enjoy even a promise of prosperity. Along with contributions from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Mary Robinson, Peter Sutherland and many others, last week's discussion demonstrated the disproportionate contribution that this country has made in attempting to deal with that continent's challenges.
Mankind now enjoys the highest levels of prosperity in its history and war on a global scale is 60 years behind us and counting. Subtle but constructive changes are in evidence in relation to US attitudes towards its foreign policy and its approach to climate change. The world's prosperity makes it hard to sustain a sense of urgency about problems that we can see but not yet feel. On the other hand, it provides an opportunity for solving them that is unique and perhaps, unrepeatable.