I do believe, though, that it is an informed opinion, and I am always trying to learn more. I can’t deny being a rich guy with an opinion. I own big houses and fly in private planes – in fact, I took one to Paris for the climate conference, so who am I to lecture anyone on the environment? The world is not exactly lacking in rich men with big ideas about what other people should do, or who think technology can fix any problem. I am aware that I’m an imperfect messenger on climate change. I own big houses and fly in private planes, so who am I to lecture anyone? I’m an imperfect messenger on climate change. Just as we needed new tests, treatments and vaccines for the novel coronavirus, we need new tools for fighting climate change: zero-carbon ways to produce electricity, make things, grow food, keep our buildings cool or warm, and move people and goods around the world. This small decline in emissions is proof that we cannot get to zero simply, or even mostly, by flying and driving less. And yet the world’s greenhouse gas emissions probably dropped just 5%, and possibly less. To put it mildly, this was not a situation that anyone would want to continue or repeat. More than 2 million people died and tens of millions were put out of work. In real terms, that means we will release the equivalent of 48-49bn tons of carbon, instead of 51bn.Ĭonsider what it took to achieve this 5% reduction. But the reduction will probably be about 5%. Take this past year: economic activity has slowed down so much, due to Covid-19, that the world will emit fewer greenhouse gases. This sounds difficult, because it will be.

How to avoid a climate disaster