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This week there's been huge attention to Bill Gates' new book on climate change (e.g. Guardian, BBC), & how he can 'save the world' (The Wired). Here I outline why the billionaire's latest foray into climate change should be a cause of concern to env & dev folks (1)
(2) @TimothyWSchwab provides a great critique. Gates' focus on technocentric, top-down solutions doesn't address key issues at stake (e.g. vulnerability of the poor; overconsumption of the rich; social & env. justice). Gates' own contradictory lifestyle https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/bill-gates-climate-book/
(3)e.g. flying in private jets, becoming the largest farmland owner in the United States & getting even more wealthy in the pandemic, should not be obscured. How can geoengineering be the solution out of the climate crisis? The focus on synthetic meat may be appealing
(4) at one level but should be challenged. Sustainable & ethical animal husbandry are important for biodiversity & health & can't be replaced by monocropping & lab foods. Instead attention should be on creating viable agro-pastoral systems which sustain livelihoods & ecosystems
(5) Examples from other sectors also provide lessons. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is a major donor in global health, development, water & sanitation. The approach tends to focus on high impact solutions, usually from 'above', which are rolled out at scale
(6) This can compromise on quality, equity & sustainability. @missanabeem writes about the BMGF award to Narendra Modi as a global sanitation leader in 2019 despite huge problems with India's sanitation mission & Modi's human rights record. I'm quoted https://qz.com/1714568/why-is-the-gates-foundations-award-to-narendra-modi-controversial/
(7) As a major philanthropic organisation the Gates have huge convening power with donors, the UN & countries. Bill Gates himself is not uncontroversial given his rise from computer hacker to global billionaire & philanthropist. Rather than claiming to "save the world"
(8) & addressing every global challenge through top-down technocentric & apolitical lenses, @BillGates & BMGF would do better to focus on wider issues re: politics, political economy & justice & build on the practices & perspectives of groups & communities from 'below'. End.
