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How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates (Summary)
This book approaches the current environmental crisis with optimism, from a business + innovation angle (think Bill Gates’ background & agenda). A relatively easy read for beginners and I like that it does take the development / inequality factor into account, an angle that’s often neglected in discussions on sustainability.
What’s also incredible from reading this book is seeing the way Gates is able to take on a complex topic (the environmental crisis & solutions) which he arguably has limited knowledge or experience in, and to put his own logical frame of thinking over it to help him cut through the clutter and get to the core of the problem to determine what really needs to get done. And then to explain it simply, avoid jargon and just tell it in a focused manner.
As sustainability moves fast — hopefully with consistent progress — it’s also important to state that this book was first published in 2021.
Why zero: what’s the environmental problem, really?
- We need to reduce 51 billion tonnes a year of greenhouse gases emissions (CO2 equivalent) a year.
- Warmer air absorbs more moisture from soil, increasing the risk of drought. This also affects rivers which supply drinking water and supports irrigation for crops…
