Last month I reported on my findings from a book about climate change by the co-founder of Greenpeace, Patrick Moore. You can read that blog here. Moore states in his book that, contrary to the current popular narrative, the push to phase out fossil fuel use in the next 30 years “is the biggest threat to civilization in the world today.” He also believes much of the concern about global warming is a hoax, put forth by those with a radical agenda, by people and groups that have elevated the needs of the planet over the needs of the people.

After reading that book, it was suggested that I consider an opposing viewpoint and read Bill Gates’ book entitled, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, published in 2021. I read and listened to the audio version of this book over the past two weeks and found it interesting, yet disturbing. Gates is smart and has spent a lot of time and resources to try to fully understand climate change. Yet, despite his seemingly objective look at all the issues related to this topic, he is at his core a "doom and gloomer" with an agenda-driven worldview.

Gates’ premise is that we need to get to zero carbon emissions as soon as possible. He believes this will be hard, given the cheap abundance of fossil fuels and our dependence on them. His solution calls for national governments in all countries to work closely with private industry and research groups to find breakthroughs in technology that will allow us produce electricity without fossil fuels, which produce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. His strong hope is that we find a new way to suck out all the greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

His solutions to global warming center on finding new ways to generate clean electricity and discontinue the use of gas, diesel and natural gas. In Bill’s world we all buy electric cars and trucks in the short term and look for giant breakthroughs in technology.

One issue I was hoping Gates would explain better in his book is why he believes that fossil fuel use for energy is causing global warming. He explains in his introduction that in 2006, two climate scientists who were “well versed in the issues showed me the data connecting greenhouse gas emissions to climate change.” He has a chart showing the average global temperature of the earth from 1850 until 2018 and the correlation to increased carbon dioxide emissions.

He states emphatically that it’s an absolute fact that the earth will continue to heat up and reach a point of destruction unless we act now. He cites the UN panel report Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which has concluded by consensus that the data and science show that the earth is heating up because of fossil fuel use.

In Chapter 1 of his book, he predicts the future of the planet looks pretty bleak unless we change our ways. Global warming will cause famines, more wildfires, increased spread of malaria, rising sea levels and the destruction of up to 8% of the plants and animals in the world. To do nothing or to continue burning fossil fuels is not a sustainable strategy.

His list of new technology breakthroughs needed include hydrogen produced without emitting carbon, grid-scale electricity storage that can last a full season, electrofuels, advanced biofuels, zero-carbon cement, zero-carbon steel, plant and cell-based meats and dairy, zero-carbon fertilizer and next-generation nuclear fission.

Bill Gates is in the news often because he’s trying to use his wealth, fame and influence to lead for radical climate change in the next two decades. You’ve likely heard quotes from Gates to the effect that he thinks we should all eat plant-based burgers over real beef burgers; two of the action steps that he puts forward that each of us can do are 1) run for political office and 2) eat plant-based products, because “just once or twice a week will cut down on the emissions that you’re responsible for.”

It's evident from reading his book that Bill Gates is resourceful and influential and has convinced many local, national and world leaders that his views on climate change and his solutions to protect the planet cover all the bases. But the facts are selectively presented.

Bill Gates on climate change and meat consumption

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