‘with how to avoid a climate disaster’, bill gates manages the almost impossible. he provides an extensive, accessible and non-judgemental overview on the topic.
accessible and valuable
i was indeed surprised at how accessible the writing was. from the explanation of scientific concepts to the use of everyday examples, the language he used was clear, simple and straightforward. the occasional (unintended?) joke included.
his content, however, packed a punch. he covered in quite some detail where the 51 billion tons of greenhouse gases mankind used in 2019 came from.
by providing this overview, he offers his reader a framework within which each and every single one of was – self proclaimed science geek or not – can situate and evaluate most of the climate information that comes our way.
this is extremely valuable.
even more so if we consider for instance yuval noah harari’s theory that some people might be drawn to conspiracy theories because these are easier to believe than the complex, nuanced and often incomplete picture of reality.
empowering
in my opinion, however, the book’s real strength lies in its realistic appreciation of human nature. his action plan for us and our governments is not some wishful thinking based on hope, dreams and air, but the fact-based, logical conclusion of an incredibly intelligent and successful businessman.
the reason this is so extraordinary is because some psychological research identifies self-efficacy as a contributing factor to political action.
hence, by writing this book, gates doesn’t simply increase the motivation to fight climate change or the blueprint on what could and should be done, but also the belief that these actions will be successful. thereby empowering even more people to engage in climate action in the future.
a caveat at the end
this being said, some of the featured solutions were a little more than just ‘out there’. so my advice would be to read this book with an open, yet always critical mind and a grain of salt.
