Saving the Planet according to Bill

I am at least somewhat inspired by the fact that one software billionaire decided to resign from operating his company and putting his money to work on the most critical issues of our time. Even he is mystified by the conspiracy theories that have resulted from his work in virus development and prevention. His medical student daughter who has received the vaccine says that unfortunately it didn’t contain the microchip so loved by the conspiracy crowd that might make her as smart as her dad.

Bill Gates has written a book about how to save the planet and several reports have summarized some of the steps. Here are seven of them where we need to send a message:

• Advocate for governments to support research and development in clean energy technology if and when the private sector refuses to do so. That’s how we got to where we are with modern technologies - government funding

• Level the playing field of production costs of carbon use. Both the actual producer and consumer needs to pay for it. Otherwise we all do.

• Ensure that the right information is available to home owners and landlords re upgrades. That’s a government responsibility to know and communicate.

• Ensure that government keeps up to date with building standards and mandates the best construction policies.

• When communities transition from fossil fuels and jobs are lost, respond that governments respond with financial help to ease the obvious pain that the changes bring.

• Ensure that government policies work on the big things - not just the small stuff.

• Take a coordinated approach to technology, policy and markets. It’s not as though they aren’t all connected.