Bill Gates. Credits: Bill Gates Foundation
After years of supporting clean-tech projects and warning of a climate “catastrophe”, Bill Gates seems to have changed his position. In a recent Gates Notes article, the founder of Microsoft says that climate change is a serious issue but will not end civilization, and that society’s emphasis on reducing CO₂ emissions has gone too far.
Mr. Gates is calling this a “strategic pivot” and wants to begin emphasizing adaptation, poverty alleviation and access to clean energy, rather than focusing negotiations on emission targets alone. He is particularly critical of what he calls an “apocalyptic vision” of climate change, saying that global temperature benchmarks are not a good gauge of actual progress. Instead, he feels that we should assess success based on improvements in human well-being.
This pivot is reminiscent of long-time commentators such as Danish economist Bjørn Lomborg, who have stated for a long time that climate alarmism mischannels global priorities. Critics of Gates, however, will state that his version of realism is another flavor of “philanthrocapitalism”, marrying altruism with a strategic investment approach. Meanwhile, as Fortune 500 companies align to the policies of the Trump presidency, Mr. Gates’s change in tone could signify a rebranding of the green agenda on behalf of pragmatic interests or intentionally control the narrative regarding climate policies.
References:
https://www.gatesnotes.com/home/home-page-topic/reader/three-tough-truths-about-climate
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