Bill Gates changes tactics to combat climate change after Trump’s election
19 March 09:08
Breakthrough Energy, a Bill Gates-funded organization working on a wide range of climate issues, has announced major cuts to its operations. This is stated in the material of The New York Times, according to Komersant ukrainskyi.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the cuts affected Breakthrough Energy’s European division, the American public policy team, and most of the employees who worked on partnerships with other climate organizations.
These changes reflect Gates’ adaptation to the new political reality after Donald Trump’s victory. Given the Republican control of Congress and the White House, Gates decided that the political team was unlikely to be able to effectively influence decisions in Washington.
At the same time, the company claims that it continues to fight climate change.
“Bill Gates remains committed to advancing the clean energy innovations needed to fight climate change,”
– said a Gates spokeswoman commenting on the cuts.
But instead of influencing policy, Gates is now focusing on developing clean energy companies through the Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Breakthrough Energy Fellows programs. These initiatives, which fund renewable technology startups and entrepreneurs, have remained intact.
Gates, who had previously avoided party politics, actively supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, donating approximately $50 million to her campaign. After Trump’s victory, he tried to establish relations with the new administration by visiting him at Mar-a-Lago.
Of particular concern to Gates is Trump’s decision to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which provided vital medical assistance around the world. The Gates Foundation has warned that it will not be able to compensate for the agency’s $40 billion annual budget with its $9 billion.
The Gates Foundation has also reorganized its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, an area that the new Trump administration sees as a manifestation of “liberal excess.” Last month, Gates himself said that DEI programs “sometimes went too far.”
In his essay on Breakthrough Energy, Gates wrote:
“Climate change is already affecting most people’s lives, and when we think about the impact on our families and future generations, it can seem insurmountable. The scale and speed of the transformation required to build a clean energy future is unprecedented.”
Bill Gates’ ideas on climate change
Bill Gates is actively engaged in the fight against climate change. In his book “How to Prevent Climate Catastrophe: Where We Are Now and What We Should Do Next”, he offers a comprehensive approach to solving this global problem:
- Achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions: Every year, approximately 51 billion tons of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. Gates emphasizes the need to reduce these emissions to zero, as even a significant reduction will not stop the rise in global temperature, but will only slow it down.
- Reducing the cost of alternative energy: For the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, it is necessary to make them economically competitive with fossil fuels. This requires innovation and a willingness to invest in “green premiums” – additional costs for environmentally friendly technologies.
- Reforming industrial production: Industry, including cement, steel, and plastic production, is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Gates emphasizes the importance of introducing clean technologies in these sectors to achieve climate goals.
- Development of nuclear energy: Since the transition to renewable energy sources takes time, Gates believes that it is appropriate to use modern safe nuclear technologies as a temporary solution to reduce emissions.
- Support for innovation and research: Investing in new technologies and scientific research is key to fighting climate change. Gates calls on governments and the private sector to actively support clean energy developments.
- Adaptation to climate change: In addition to efforts to reduce emissions, it is necessary to prepare for the effects of climate change. This includes developing adaptation strategies, such as building protective structures, developing climate-resilient agricultural practices, and improving emergency response systems.
Bill Gates emphasizes that a successful fight against climate change requires joint efforts by governments, business and society, as well as significant investments in innovation and environmentally friendly technologies.
At the same time, his ideas are often criticized. For example, Gates is a supporter of restricting passenger air travel for people because airplanes are very polluting. However, he himself uses a private jet.
