"This sounds difficult, because it will be. The world has never done anything quite this big."

Every year, about 51 billion tons of greenhouse gases are added to our atmosphere, with the number still increasing.Zero is the amount we need to aim for in order to stop climate change.

51 Billion to Zero

Contrary to popular belief, emissions caused by car traffic and aviation only make up around 16% of all greenhouse gases emitted.The remaining 84% are caused by the production of food, electricity and building materials, as well as air conditioning.

Causes of Global Warming

Generating electricity causes 27% of greenhouse gas emissions.Today, fossil fuels account for two-thirds of all electricity generated worldwide. Getting all this energy from clean sources requires breakthroughs in science, for example in nuclear fusion and carbon capture.Because the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow, we also need more efficient batteries to store solar and wind generated electricity.

1 - How we plug in

Production of plastics, concrete and steel causes 31% of greenhouse gas emissions.By 2060, urbanization will have approximately doubled. That's the equivalent of putting up another New York City every month.Currently, the only way to make concrete and steel involves tremendous carbon emissions. We need to electrify these processes and use materials more efficiently.

2 - How we make things

Food production causes 19% of greenhouse gas emissions.In agriculture, the main culprit isn't carbon dioxide, but methane. It causes 28 times more warming per molecule than carbon.As funny as it sounds, 4% of global warming is due to cows farting and burping methane - that's the same amount of what ship and airplane traffic causes combined!So, to lower these numbers, we need to eat more plant-based and waste less food.

3 - How we grow things

Vehicle traffic causes 16% of greenhouse gas emissions.For short-distance vehicles, like cars and buses, going all-electric is an efficient alternative to gasoline.Long-distance vehicles, like trucks and planes, might have to switch to advanced bio- or electrofuels. Ships could rely more on atomic energy, like plenty submarines and aircraft carriers do.

4 - How we get around

Air conditioning causes 7% of greenhouse gas emissions.With climate change warming the earth more and more, A/C demand is on the rise.The biggest problem here are the coolants used to transfer the heat. Especially in cheap A/C units, so-called F-gases leak out into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming.Government policies and incentives are needed for more climate-friendly devices to be put in service.

5 - How we keep cool and warm

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical—and accessible—plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions—suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.

technologyandthefuture

Technology & The Future

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical—and accessible—plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions—suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.

Reading books is one of my favorite ways to learn new things and better understand the world. I try to read every day, even when I’m busy and traveling. I’m excited to share with you what I'm reading, the people I meet, and what I'm learning.

How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

John Peace