For your denialist uncle, you can point out that very non tree-huggery, hard headed and successful capitalists are now getting it on climate change.
After dithering for some years on the edge of the issue, Bill Gates has finally gotten it, and jumped in to the climate debate with both feet. The rub is that he might have a little too much faith in some kind of magical technofix, whereas many thinkers believe we already have all the technology we need to make the transition, or at least get a long way down the road.
If you’re looking at carbon sequestration, and nuclear, as he does, you might indeed need a miracle.
Important to get it that we don’t need to wait for a magic bullet.
More in his recent interview in Rolling Stone.
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More re: Bill Gates’ techno-fix take on climate change:
Joe Romm – “Bill Gates is Wrong About “Energy Miracles”: To preserve a livable climate, we need technology deployment. That’s what drives innovation, as Gates himself used to argue.
http://climateprogress.org/2010/02/14/bill-gates-ted-speech-innovation-energy-miracles/#comments
I basically agree, but I applaud the big step Gate’s has taken from where he was a couple years ago, like nowhere on the issue.
I don’t trust Gates any further than I can throw him. Throughout his business career he has demonstrated that he has no morals. Bill Gates is in it for Bill Gates.
Here are some of the main investments of his foundation:
* ExxonMobil, BP, Peabody Energy, Caterpillar, Goldman Sachs, Daimler, McDonalds, Coca Cola, Walmart, Monsanto
These are companies with terrible environmental and humanitarian records. They contribute to environmental degradation and poverty in developing countries – the same countries Gates claims he wants to help.
And looking at those it’s no surprise he prefers fantasy talk of geoengineering and “energy miracles” rather than simply cutting carbon with the technology we have now and that simply needs deploying.
* Gates and Buffet to invest in tar sands and spawn more two-headed fish? http://climateprogress.org/2008/08/24/gates-and-buffet-to-invest-in-tar-sands-and-spawn-more-two-headed-fish/
* Dark cloud over good works of Gates Foundation. http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_60581.shtml
* GATES FOUNDATION INVESTS IN MONSANTO. Both will profit at expense of small-scale African farmers. http://www.seattleglobaljustice.org/2010/08/for-immediate-release-gates-foundation-invests-in-monsanto/
point well taken.
But I believe in fanning the coals of humanity, even when they are very faint.
Let’s keep working to get more people at least going on the record to say what is true.
Absolutely. A laudable attitude.
I’m probably not cut out for a career in the diplomatic service. 😉
While I’m glad Gates acknowledges the problem of climate change, the issues noted by Blue Rock were enough to get Gates on the following list.
Awards For the World’s Most Heinous Climate Villains
http://www.alternet.org/environment/149120/5_awards_for_the_world%27s_most_heinous_climate_villains/
I loved this talk by Gates and appalled at those who knock him in the comments . Would you rather have the deniers in Congress win? The world needs more business leadership to stand up and scream – climate change will kill our children.
If you disagree with Gates – then you need to present your solutions: millions of wind mills off shore and thousands of thermal solar in the SW? what role does nuclear play? one 1100 mega watt plant = output from 1800 wind turbines. I love wind and nuclear and solar but we need to build millions. Cost is all realtive – offshore wind is more $ than nuclear but who cares . if my children will die – i will pay any price. Then the question is what about india and china burning coal? India is working on nine – 4000 megawatt coal burning utilities. Those are the only places CCS should be used.. Come on Gates is on our side.