Bill McKibben says Bill Gates is wrong about climate change-and he's part of a bigger problem

"The first thing to understand about Bill Gates is it's not like he's been all over this from the start. It took him until 2006, which was 18 years after Jim Hanson told us that the planet was heating up, to conclude that it was actually a real problem and not something that nature was going to solve by itself. Now he's saying, "Let's don't worry too much about it because we should be working on other things instead.""

"McKibben, who also publishes a free Substack calledThe Crucial Years, came on the Most Innovative Companies podcast to talk about what Bill Gates is getting wrong about climate concerns, how solar became cheaper than fossil fuels, and the importance of mobilizing senior citizens in the fight against climate change through his organization Third Act.This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity."

"The best interpreter of his letter was of course the President of the United States who quite succinctly on Truth Social announced that Bill Gates says climate change is a hoax. It's not quite what he said, but for all intents and purposes he might as well have. I'm afraid it's because Mr. Gates's empire at the moment depends-like all the other billionaires-on sucking up to this guy."

Solar and wind power are now cheaper to build and harness than fossil fuels, creating a new economic reality. That cost advantage gives renewable energy the capacity to transform society if the U.S. government implements supportive policies. Climate concerns have been publicly downplayed by influential figures who suggest focusing on other priorities despite longstanding scientific warnings. Delayed acknowledgment of climate risk and political alignments among wealthy individuals influence public messaging. Mobilizing senior citizens through organizations like Third Act is presented as an important strategy for climate advocacy and political pressure to accelerate renewable deployment.

Read at Fast Company