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  • How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

  • The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need
  • Written by: Bill Gates
  • Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, Bill Gates
  • Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (272 ratings)

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How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

Written by: Bill Gates
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, Bill Gates
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Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin. 

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, shares what he has learnt in more than a decade of studying climate change and investing in innovations to address climate problems. He explains how the world can work to build the tools it needs to get to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions - investing in research, inventing new technologies and deploying them quickly at a large scale. Gates is optimistic that the world can prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis. 

This is a visionary and inspiring book by one of the world's most celebrated public figures. 

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2020 Bill Gates (P)2020 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

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Must Read For All!

I just finished How to Avoid A Climate Disaster by Bill Gates. It’s a compilation of verified information capsules which helps set the context of climate change, talks about various methods in practice to combat it, and a few under research to help reach the 0 carbon emission goal in the next 10, 50 and 100 years.

I have attached a PDF which is an excerpt from the book illustrating different facts and figures for us to understand the impact in detail. Mentioned below are takeouts of a novice whose myths have been shattered by this book:

1.Annually, the world produces 51 Billion tonnes carbon emissions (only carbon dioxide), out of which given the lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, only 5% was reduced (might be lower).

2. Electric Vehicles are definitely the future, but only when electricity produced for it is with zero carbon waste. We should not replace one fossil fuel with the other.

3. Green premium needs to be lowered across alternatives for plugging in, making things, growing food, getting around and cooling and staying warm. E.g. Today paying a premium of x/unit for getting clean electricity from Tata Power or Adani is called a green premium.

4. Innovation for distribution of electricity generated via solar and wind power to different parts of the world is important to ensure energy is available to countries or parts of them where both are intermittent throughout the year. If this isn’t done, we will never be able to isolate ourselves from fossil fuels.

5. Logistics need to looks for alternative fuels (eg electro fuel) or hybrid solutions as EVs isn't a sustainable solution for trucks. E.g. For a 12 wheeler truck, the weight of the lithium ion batteries will reduces the the weight of the good it can carry, and effeciency of a diesel trucks will always be better than an EV.

Also, it will be great if the book is available for free, so it can reach masses to help understand the gravity and impact of the climate disaster if nothing is done to avoid it.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
  • MM
  • 22-02-21

7 hours to save several generations!

Step by step, well structured and thoughtf
ul guide to not only raise awareness on the scale of the problem but also the potential solutions at every level of the government, private sector and what we as individuals can do to tackle this existential threat to life on planet earth!

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Good book for beginners

This is a well summarised view on an important topic. It’s brilliantly organised and structured.

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Practical approach

It was well written dividing problem into smaller pieces, dealing with one at a time and then combining everything to look at the larger picture. It sends the message across very strongly to all the stakeholders and clearly spells out each one's responsibility. Most importantly the author explain in details how to interpret impact of different technologies on climate change. For instance, the analysis of how EVs may not be so eco-friendly, if the power to recharge the batteries is not generated clean is hard-hitting. On the other hand, plastic may not be bad for Climate Change if only we know how to recycle, reuse and safely dispose. Indeed they can act as carbon sink as they lock in carbon for centuries without releasing it into the atmosphere is a new perspective.

A must read for planners, innovators, entrepreneurs, Governments and every individual.

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Learned a lot how this is challenging to how to do

As a admirer of Bill, the amount of work he put into the book is praiseworthy. After reading this book I see how everything is connected from government policies to market to consumer and more importantly innovation from various sectors, to solve this problem. A must listen or read book for everyone.

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A book that everyone should read.

Provides technical solutions to the most complex problem that we are facing now. A must read of want to be gift a habitable plant to our next generation.

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Alternatives to consumption are not an asnwer

I have tried to submit 2 reviews of this book, and both of them have been removed repeatedly. This is my third attempt. I am not comfortable with the proposed solutions that were mentioned in the book. The author talks of switching one consumption option to another, like EV vehicles or GMO based food. There is little talk of setting up a robust public and mass transport system, but focus on technologies which are being developed under a for profit intention. later these technologies will be given to the developing world so that the demand continues to work forward. The author himself claims the hypocrisy of his actions as he travels around in his private jet. the whole book talks of developing a technology that will emit less carbon, but misses the point that the current consumption and substitution behaviors are going to cause more carbon emission (the batteries for the EV). developing any and all GMO based food which later needs to be sold to the world at a cost comes with one malicious intent only- that the profitability of this effort continues forever and the natural replenishment abilities of mother nature are taken away. When a capitalist mentality attempts to rescue the world, there is someone making money of it and the author glorifies all this in his behaviour and actions even today.

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An overview of the climate situation

I loved the structure and simple language in which this book has explained about the complexities of climate change and solutions involved. A good book to start your journey and understanding what we as individuals can contribute towards.

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Through Gates' Lens: A Skewed Climate View

While I wanted to objectively understand Bill Gates' perspective on the climate crisis, this book offered no new insights. As expected, Gates continues his pattern of investing in companies, then using propaganda to sow fear about potential disasters related to those industries. He then pushes for policies that allow him to profit exorbitantly. This appears to be his exact strategy with vaccine companies as well.

Although not an elected official or climate scientist, Gates has still caused substantial damage by working with figures like Fauci, Schwab, and Biden to create perceived emergencies. He then pushes questionable agendas on the general public, who suffer the most consequences.

In this book, Gates warns of impending climate disaster and says all governments must unite to combat this urgent threat. However, the real threat seems to be Gates himself and his associates. He advocates for over 10 policy changes that would further tax the burdened middle class under the guise of environmentalism.

Gates claims he wants open debates on these issues. Yet he has colluded with tech companies and media outlets he funds to aggressively censor dissenting voices. It is disheartening to see parts of the public still fall for his tactics.

However, with increased awareness of Gates' questionable practices, there is hope. The truth has a way of prevailing, and one day Gates may face consequences. For those familiar with his actions, this book provides nothing new. The gist is that Gates wants to further tax the populace in the name of carbon reduction, and he will likely succeed to some extent. But I remain optimistic that the opposite may yet happen.

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A timely work by a writer of supreme credibility

As a forest officer in India I have dwelt with the subject of climate change and carbon sequestration for a decade. This book is panoramic in approach and exhaustive in discourse. It elaborates the sectors that contribute to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the shared responsibility of mankind to act in unison to a clear plan before it is too late. Reading it has been a rewarding experience.

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