On December 3, the New York Times published Bill Gates's article "The Cost of Fighting Climate Change Should Be Affordable, and the Rich Can Make It Happen", an excerpt from which is as follows:
As we head into the annual global climate change conference in Dubai, there are two popular trends in society, both of which are wrong. One is that the future is hopeless and that our children and grandchildren are destined to suffer on a burning earth;The other thinks that we're going to be okay because we already have everything we need to solve the problem of climate change.
We are not doomed, and we do not have all the solutions. What we really have is human ingenuity, which is our greatest asset. But to beat climate change, we need wealthy individuals, businesses, and countries to step up and ensure that green technologies are affordable for everyone, everywhere.
Let's start with what wealthy individuals, such as myself, can do to help.
Wealthy investors have the capital to take on risk, and they really should take more risk. They should invest in companies that develop transformative green solutions – especially those that have the potential but are currently under-funded, including green hydrogen and carbon management. Very wealthy individuals should also make lifestyle changes in order to reduce their emissions to near zero.
In terms of size, wealthy businesses and ** can do more than the wealthiest individuals and investors. They can use their purchasing power to buy green products to accelerate the adoption of new technologies. This means electrifying their corporate fleets, sourcing low-carbon materials for construction projects, and committing to a high percentage of clean electricity.
Rich countries can also do more with policies, such as by creating tax incentives and creating an enabling environment that supports green alternatives to help clean products compete with traditional products. It is especially important to wean the toughest industries off fossil fuels – such as cement and steel – and to set a model that other countries** can follow.
The progress in health and development that countries around the world continue to make is inextricably linked to our ability to address climate change. Healthy people, with some financial stability, are better able to cope with extreme heat, drought and wildfires, and are better able to afford technologies to curb climate change. For the rich, this means continuing to work to end poverty, improve health, and fund programs that help people adapt to a warmer world. (Compiled by Cao Weiguo).