Berlin Microsoft founder Bill Gates has won the special award “Entrepreneur Book of the Year” of the German Business Book Prize with his book “How we prevent the climate catastrophe”. In the Berlin Adlon he gave the Handelsblatt editorial staff a short interview beforehand. The video message was shown at the gala for the award ceremony at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
“I wrote this book to help understand how difficult it is to solve the climate problem – and that it is still possible,” says Gates. “The more attention there is for it, the better.” It’s about getting citizens involved. “Because it takes their consumption, their votes, their understanding to achieve something very, very difficult: to get from global emissions of 51 billion tons of CO2 per year to zero.”
He explains the process of creating the book as follows: “I was fortunate that some of the leading scientists were willing to explain to me where the global emissions come from. And why it is more expensive to avoid emissions. “The greatest challenge, however, is” whether one can manage to bundle the matter and explain it to someone who may not have the time that I could take. ”
The jury, made up of representatives from business and science, found that he had more than succeeded: “Bill Gates, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, is tackling one of the most important problems of our time, very solution-oriented, broken down into examples and therefore very good generally understandable. “
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You can read the whole interview here:
Mr. Gates, your book on combating climate change was named Entrepreneur Book of the Year. What does that mean to you?
I wrote this book to help you understand how difficult it is to solve the climate problem – and that it is still possible. The more attention there is to it, the better. It’s about getting citizens involved. Because it takes their consumption, their votes, their understanding to achieve something very, very difficult: to get from global emissions of 51 billion tons of CO2 per year to zero.
You are already waging a global fight against disease and poverty. How was there time to delve into the climate crisis?
I became aware of the climate issue through the work of my foundation in Africa. We spoke to farmers who reported more frequent mistakes. And then I understood: Okay, I have to find out more.
Bill Gates: “I don’t share an interest in space”
How exactly did you do that?
I was fortunate that some of the leading scientists were willing to explain to me where the global emissions are coming from. And why it is more expensive to avoid emissions. Up until then I didn’t know much about cement or steel and read the specialist literature. The biggest challenge then is whether you can manage to bundle the matter and explain it to someone who may not have the time that I could take.
So your book was a kind of group work?
Well, my learning process consisted of meeting experts. When it came time to start writing, I was helped by my colleague Josh Daniel, who I’ve worked with for more than a decade. He was a great help to me.
Bill Gates: How we can prevent the climate catastrophe.
Piper Publishing House
Munich 2021
316 pages
22 euros
What stands out: the book is full of data and statistics. Do you think that a scientific approach is the right one to convince skeptics of climate change, of whom there are still many in your home country?
I don’t think my book will convince many skeptics. My book is aimed more at people who have recognized the problem and want to find out: Why is it so difficult to solve in ten years? What is behind the concern that prices will skyrocket if we move too quickly? Why do many wonder if they should make short-term sacrifices to prevent terrible long-term climate impacts?
And what’s your answer?
I dedicate myself to the role of innovation, which has preoccupied me all my professional life, and how we can accelerate progress. My aim is to explain why more money is needed for research and development and why it is so important that people demand reforms. We are facing scientific challenges, but we have already achieved a lot.
What are you thinking about?
Solar cells are cheaper today than anyone would have thought possible. It’s just not enough. We have to achieve something similar with steel, cement, meat and other areas. At least we understand the model of success: If we invest early and start expanding, we can greatly reduce the costs of operating in a green way, and in some cases even make them disappear.
Other billionaires are reaching for the stars. Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson build spaceships. Let’s be honest: Wouldn’t you rather take part in the space race than bury yourself in climate and economic data?
No, I have two great passions. The first is global health care, which includes ending this pandemic and preparing for the next. The second is climate change. Jeff Bezos has the Earth Fund, so he’s also committed to the climate to a certain extent. Richard Brenson is part of our endeavor at Breakthrough Energy. But I don’t share an interest in space with them.
Mr. Gates, thank you very much for the interview.
More: All information about the German Business Book Prize